Reya Kundu

AR3023

In the present scenario, Bopal, a growing city fails to act as a regional hub despite its proximity to key employment hubs. The physical barrier created by the railway line that cuts of the northern fringe from the central region and the absence of a railway station results in a disconnect from its neighboring villages. Further, of the three active water bodies along the railway track, the Bopal Lake fails to act as an active public space. Reasons being overflowing during monsoons generating unhygienic conditions, and low population density resulting in low footfall. A transit center linked with the activation of the neglected water bodies is thus proposed as a solution aiming to provide the commuters “leisure on the go”, while also providing the residents a safe space to gather, relax and interact. Analogous to the contextually familiar water structures; vavs and kunds; the project aims to fuse the concept of leisure with a formal program, ensuring a necessary footfall to activate the now dead precinct. The infrastructural built form is used to produce socially active leisure spots within the city. Further, the said water bodies are linked together with the intent of regulation of the water level and promotion of community activities like urban farming, that engage the locals as well as provides some with a profitable self-employment opportunity. The scheme thus acts as the stimulant for overall development of area that falls under TP 1 region. With improved connections, an increase in influx of population would be noticed, resulting in development and growth of the disconnected northern fringe.