Mukunda Madhav Konwar

UP4001-4

The Surat HSR Station planning exercise emphasized the importance of an integrated approach, starting with a Zonal Level Plan as a precursor to micro-level Town Planning Schemes. This approach bridged the gap between macro strategies and detailed planning, ensuring livability, sustainability, economic viability, and a user-oriented design. The plan incorporated market-driven mixed-use zoning, allowing land and building uses to adapt to demand while incentivizing specific developments to stimulate economic growth. Simplified and flexible regulations, based on Floor Space Index (FSI), guided building heights and setbacks, ensuring optimal space utilization and adaptability to future needs. A balance between economic and ecological priorities was central, with extensive green spaces enhancing urban resilience and environmental quality. Transitioning to an equitable Town Planning Scheme mechanism over traditional land acquisition facilitated broader acceptance and aligned with Gujarat’s progressive planning framework. This holistic approach seamlessly integrated economic, environmental, and social objectives, envisioning the Surat HSR Station area as a sustainable and vibrant urban hub.