Confrontation, comparison and reconstruction of the walled city of Shahjahanabad

Abstract

Cities offer a platform for cultural, social, physical and economic co-existence and conflict. Many traditional cities of India, which were conceived on the basis of relative autonomy of the existing societal structure, got transformed in to complex, fragmentary patterns of urban development due to their failure to support continuous population pressure and new trends of urbanization. One of these cities, Shahjahanabad (commonly known as Old Delhi), stands out as one of the perfect examples. The walled city of Shahjahanabad initially evolved on the basis of formal geometries of axial planning, and later got transformed in to a chaotic hub of complex form; initially due to the conscious neglect by the British colonialism and later due to endless problems generated by human immigration. Although, the walled city is known for its historical significance due to numerous architectural monuments, the indigenous settlement is tabooed as "Old Delhi" due to its persistent socio- cultural patterns that isolate the traditional core of Delhi from rest of the city structure. Nonetheless, the walled city of Shahjahanabad is characterized by its introvert nature of public activities bolstered by specialized bazaars and indigenous neighborhoods (Mohallas) structured around religious sanctuaries.

(cont.) Although the traditional core is known for its local economy, the inner city continues poses serious threats of inner traffic congestion, excessive commercialization. Though there have been numerous efforts to decongest and revitalize the traditional core, all the efforts seemed too shortsighted to capture the genesis of all the problems; the problems which exists beyond the city peripheries, to the largely urban and economic growth of the city. The thesis tries to address the inner city issues and problems of the walled city of Shahjahanabad, which are largely because of its separation, and isolation from the rest of city growth. On the basis of problem analysis the research argues that the problems of the historic core need not follow "city revitalization" process, but needs to adopt city "integration process", which would not only provide important city services through urban design interventions, but also provide solutions to many inner city problems. The growth pattern of Shahjahanabad exhibit various historical layers, changes over the period of time due to shifting and concentration of forces, which in turn has resulted in the fragmented landscapes along its outer peripheries.

(cont.) The thesis considers these spaces as important transitional spaces, which needs to be redeveloped in order to integrate segregated core of Shahjahanabad in to a cohesive center of National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi. The thesis poses a larger question of how citywide planning strategies and macro level urban design interventions can revive the traditional core of Shahjahanabad, the city cores which has faced tremendous pressures of traffic congestion and disruptive land use patterns.