Jama Masjid Road Precinct - MMR-HCSmmrhcs.org.in/images/documents/projects/Jama-Masjid-Road-Precin… · Jama Masjid Road Precinct TASK IV. ... understood by the local population,

INCEPTION REPORT12 COPIES Date of Submission: 30/04/2010

Client: Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Heritage Society (MMR-HS) Consultant: Urban Space Consultants Pvt. Ltd.

Jama Masjid Road Precinct TASK IV

Preparation of Action Plan for conservation of Jama Masjid Road Precinct, Kalyan

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 JAMA MASJID ROAD PRECINCT, KALYAN ................................................................................................ 3 1.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3 1.2. REGIONAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................................. 5 1.3. TECHNO-LEGAL CONTEXT ..................................................................................................... 6 1.4. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................................... 8 1.5. GROWTH PATTERN AND LAND USE ..................................................................................... 10 1.6. BUILT FORM AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN ............................................................................ 11 1.7. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER .............................................................................................. 13

1.7.1. Sloping Roofs .......................................................................................................... 15 1.7.2. Street Profile ........................................................................................................... 15 1.7.3. Windows ................................................................................................................ 16 1.7.4. Sit-out and Verandahs ............................................................................................. 16

1.8. STRUCTURAL CHARACTER ................................................................................................. 16 1.9. SOCIO-CULTURAL CHARACTER........................................................................................... 17 1.10. A NOTE ON OWNERSHIP ................................................................................................. 18 1.11. A NOTE ON PRESENT PRECINCT BOUNDARY ..................................................................... 19

2.0 RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY & CONSULTATIONS .................................................................................. 20 3.0 DETAILED METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 21 4.0 NEXT STEPS ........................................................................................................................................... 24 5.0 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 26

ANNEXURES Annexure 1: Jama Masjid Road within the Development Plan of Kalyan…………………………………………………..27 Annexure 2: Jama Masjid Road: Development Constraints……………………………………………………………………….28 Annexure 3: Historical Buildings in the Vicinity of Jama Masjid Road………………………………………………………..29 Annexure 4: Land Use and Street Profile..………………………………………………………………………………………………..30 Annexure 5: Site Plan and Images …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31


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1.0 JAMA MASJID ROAD PRECINCT, KALYAN

1.1. INTRODUCTION

The Jama Masjid Road precinct is located in what is known as ‘Old Kalyan’,

located on the Eastern bank of the Ulhas River and about 48 kms toward the

North-East of Mumbai. The precinct is located close to the Durgadi Fort, a

historically significant fortified structure built on top of a hillock. The old Agra

Road linking Kalyan with the Eastern Expressway, which connects Mumbai

with the bulk of Maharashtra state, enters Kalyan at the Durgadi Fort, and is

thus at a very short distance from the precinct. The precinct is thus at an

advantageous location, on the outskirts of Old Kalyan and easily accessible

from Thane and Mumbai.

While the larger area of ‘Old Kalyan’ is nebulously defined but clearly

understood by the local population, Jama Masjid Road is considered to be the

heart of Kalyan city, marking its origins in a fishing village on the banks of the

Ulhas River and its historical function as a strategic transition point between

the marshy islands of Mumbai and the Western Ghats.

The precinct name actually indicates an approximately 380 metre long street –

half of it called Laxmi Narayan Road and the other half (between Agiary Road

and Dudh Naka) called Jama Masjid Road – running in an East to West

direction from a T-intersection known as Dudh Naka to the banks of the Ulhas

River. The prominent presence of the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) has given

the popular name to this street.

Jama Masjid

Dudh NakaPhalke Wada

Dolare House

Fangari House

Customs Old Office

Ulhas River


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The Dudh Naka Ward of Kalyan (Ward C) – the immediate socio-political

context of the precinct – is part of an area delineated as ‘Congested Area’ in

the Draft Development Plan for Kalyan prepared by the Kalyan Dombivli

Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in 2001. (Refer Annexure 1: Jama Masjid Road

within the Development Plan of Kalyan.) This ‘congested area’ is bounded by a

number of well-known streets: the Agra Road on the North, the Rambhau

Patwardhan Road to the East, the Memon Masjid Provincial Road on the

South and a number of small roads, such as Ghatti Road and Anna Saheb

Vartak Road on the West along the riverside.

The Jama Masjid Road precinct, as presently defined, is closely connected with

the cultural richness of the larger ‘congested area’, which is evident from the

variety of active public places and the place names in the vicinity. The precinct

has a number of important public places such as the Kokani Tank and Shankar

Temple, the Dawaje Tank, the Shenale Tank and the Subhash Stadium. There

is an innate cultural significance in the ‘chowks’ named after persons who are

closely associated with the history of the locality, such as the Gafur Don

Chowk, Ansari Chowk, Mahavir Prabhu Chowk, the Vaidhya Chowk, and

others.

The future of the Jama Masjid Road precinct is intimately connected with the

future of the ‘congested area’, which is replete with built structures, open

spaces and public places that are representative of Kalyan’s lengthy history. It

is likely that the heritage action plan, and the delineation of the precinct, will

respond to this context. The KDMC’s Vision 2020, as defined in the City

Development Plan (2006), is to become ‘An Ecofriendly, High-Tech, Cultural

City’. The Jama Masjid Road precinct and Old Kalyan as a whole are integral to

achieving this vision.


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1.2. REGIONAL CONTEXT

The geographical coordinates of the Jama Masjid Road precinct are

approximately at 19°N Latitude and 73°E Longitude.

Kalyan is located in Thane district to the north of Brihan Mumbai (Greater

Mumbai) and is catching up with the growth rate of Thane city, one of

Mumbai’s most important eastern suburbs. It is surrounded by the rapidly

developing Municipal Corporations of Thane, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar and Navi

Mumbai. The total area of Kalyan–Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is

67.65 sq.kms and the municipal area is divided into 7 administrative wards

and 107 electoral wards. The Dudhnaka ward is the immediate context of

Jama Masjid Road.

It has been envisaged that Kalyan Railway Station will be developed as a major

Railway Terminus to take the load off Mumbai’s overburdened rail network.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is

planning to build a Monorail corridor on connecting Thane, Bhiwandi and

Kalyan. There is also a larger multi-modal corridor, containing 4-lane

expressway and rail-based system that will connect Virar, Vasai, Diva,

Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Panvel and Alibaug. There is even a chance that Kalyan will

benefit directly from the development of Mumbai’s second international

airport. The location at Kopra-Panvel is currently under consideration.

However, there is a chance that the second choice under consideration, at

Kalyan-Newali, might become the preferred location.

The Jama Masjid Road precinct can benefit greatly from the emerging urban

and regional scenario unfolding in the Mumbai Metropolitan region. It can

emerge as a cultural hub in Kalyan, taking advantage of its strategic location,

its cultural richness and its architectural beauty.


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At the same time, its potential can also be undermined by the developmental

thrust that has emerged, towards greater utilization of land values and greater

suburbanization of all city areas. What is at the heart of urban Kalyan may

either emerge as a significant urban centre, or may be consumed by the real

estate explosion in the MMR.

1.3. TECHNO-LEGAL CONTEXT

The Draft Development Plan for Kalyan creates the techno-legal context for

the Jama Masjid Road precinct. As part of the Congested Area, it is subject to

the development regulations and provisions of the Development Plan. (The

status of the Plan provisions are not yet clearly defined, however, in

Annexure 2, ‘Jama Masjid Road: Development Constraints’, the interventions

planned in and around Jama Masjid Road, as per the Draft Development Plan,

are marked on a layout plan of the area, superimposed on a satellite image.

Several Development Plan provisions have a direct effect on the precinct. The

Coastal Regulation Zone, forbidding building activity along the Ulhas River,

forms the Western boundary of the precinct. In terms of physical

infrastructure, a proposed 30m road along the riverfront and a 12m road

Location of Jama Masjid Precinct in Kalyan

Jama Masjid Precinct


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width assigned for Laxmi Narayan Marg and Jama Masjid Road are the most

significant. In addition, there is a plan to develop a Municipal Market, a Study

Room, and several recreational land uses in the immediate vicinity of the

precinct.

As per the BPMC Act, KDMC is required to provide basic infrastructure and is

empowered to levy and collect taxes like octroi and property tax and user

charges for water supply, sewerage and fees on various other services.

Although not obligatory under BPMC Act, KDMC also runs a local transport

service, and operates and manages the local stadium and other public

facilities. These public facilities are the potential sites for Public-Private-

Partnership (PPP), especially as it might effect the heritage precinct. KDMC’s

poistive experience with private sector participation in solid waste

management demonstrates the potential of this model. The SWM system in

two of the 7 wards has already been privatised.

In the spirit of the 74th Amendment, the execution of a participatory and

citizen-led development process has been introduced. Citizens are becoming

increasingly more active in the day to day functioning of the Corporation.

Ward-level committees are being constituted to address this need.

Of the total capital investment being envisaged for the KDMC area in the next

decade, a bulk (73%) is going to be spent on roads, water supply and

sanitation schemes. A component of this spending will affect the built

envrionment of Jama Masjid Road, therefore it will be necessary to direct

attention to this issue. The precinct will also be affected by the Station Area

Development Scheme and various projects for parks & playgrounds and

schemes for beautification and preservation of lakes.

The Action Plan for Jama Masjid Road will have to address the technical and

financial aspects of development work that is on-going in its vicinity. As

already mentioned in the introduction, the existing and future provisions for

dealing with the ‘congested area’ will directly determine the fate of the

precinct.


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1.4. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The antecedents of the city of Kalyan lie in ancient times, as an important port

from the Gupta dynasty onwards. The entire region around Kalyan was under

the control of the Sultan of Bijapur during the 1500’s. Within a century, it

changed hands and the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan, fortified the city of

Kalyan. During British colonial rule, the rapid rise of Mumbai as the centre of

trade and commerce eclipsed the significance of coastal towns like Surat in

Gujarat and Kalyan in Maharashtra. However, in Post-Independence India,

Kalyan assumed importance as a junction on the Central Railway, marking the

meeting point of routes connecting to Pune, Nashik and Mumbai.

The resurgence of Kalyan as a centre of growth during the 21st century has

been triggered by the expansion of Mumbai into a metropolis during the

previous century. It has become an important satellite township for Mumbai,

providing it with services and educated, skilled, manpower. The twin city of

Kalyan – Dombivali has now emerged as one of the fastest growing urban

agglomeration in Maharashtra. Kalyan is even said to have become the second

cultural capital of Maharashtra, after Pune. The density of buildings of

architectural and socio-cultural importance has been indicated in Annexure 3

(‘Historical Buildings in the Vicinity of Jama Masjid Road’).

The historical significance of the Jama Masjid Road precincts is at two levels.

Firstly, it has an urban historical significance, as it marks the originating

settlement from where modern, ‘Industrial Age’ Kalyan emerged. The

centrality of the Ulhas river as the environmental context of the precinct, and

the heritage associated with the trades, businesses, communities and persons

associated with the movement of raw materials and supplies to feed the

metropolis. The specific East-West orientation of the street and its

architecture – terminating at one end at the port, and at the other end, at a

large public hub dominated by the Kokani Tank and the traffic roundabout

formed by Bazaar Peth Road, Maulana Azad Road and the Bapu Saheb

Phadake Road – suggest the scale of Kalyan’s urban origins. An uncovering of


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the pre-history of Jama Masjid Road, which in its present built-form is mostly

dominated by 19th and 20th century buildings, will probably reveal the

significance of the natural site along the river, with an agglomeration of

religious buildings including a mosque, a fire temple (agiary) and a temple.

The termination of the street at the bandar (port) is even acknowledged in the

local parlance, with Jama Masjid Road often referred to as ‘Bandar Road’.

The second level of significance arises from the architectural character of the

precinct and its urban context, and Jama Masjid Road in particular. The

architecture of the precinct belongs to an era that accompanied the industrial

growth of Mumbai in the late 19th and early 20th century. The importance of

the street is measured by the density of religious institutions within a fabric of

residential buildings and open spaces, and the way that these religious

structures alternately direct and follow the street network. The Parsi Agiary is

hidden from view behind the first line of buildings, whereas the masjid and

dargahs form the street edges. The fact that this was a primary community

axis is evidenced by the fact that commercial activity is limited and

fragmentary. The precinct encounters significant commercial development

only at Dudh Naka.

This residential and institutional street has a large number of examples of the

tropical urban vernacular that developed in the industrial age, with multiple

households living on small plots of land in a dense matrix of streets and open

spaces. The difference between prominent and wealthy families and the

average and ubiquitous dwelling unit are also visible. The fact that the wealthy

did not belong only to one community or practice a common trade is further

suggestion of the unifying criteria that made the urban life fundamentally

different from the agrarian, village-based life in which religion and community

were defining characteristics of the built form and culture of the local

population. The use of richer materials, ornamentation and grand proportions

are devices that set the wealthier apart from their contemporaries; however,

they could co-exist in the same space, as it were, sharing resources but


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without becoming homogenous and generic. Diversity in the architecture is a

reflection of the diversity of the local population.

1.5. GROWTH PATTERN AND LAND USE

The Jama Masjid Road precinct is undergoing rapid transformation, as old and

derelict buildings are being replaced with newer generic constructions. The

tendency of property owners is to maximise the growth potential on their

land, by raising the maximum storeys, usually 3 to 5 floors built with R.C.C.

framed structures and blank featureless walls. The tallest structures are newly

built apartments.

A mapping of the land use on the street has been represented in Annexure 4

(‘Land Use and Street Profile’). It has been indicated both in plan, showing the

individual plots and the land use on the ground floor, and has also been

represented in street elevations, showing the usage as per floors. The changes

in land use are not as rapid as might be expected in an urban context;

however, there is a replacement of the residential building stock itself.

Given the terminating conditions of the street – the riverfront is involved in

boat-building and dandy-mind activities, which do not intrude on the

residential street, whereas the eateries at Dudh Naka register crowds only

during the evening – there is very little thoroughfare, which creates a

disincentive for commercial establishments. The opening of offices, clinics and

such like uses that do not require major alteration of the built form suggest

that the street has the potential for renewal without complete

transformation. Presently, the street is able to accommodate the existing

traffic, which is sparse, two-way, and mainly pedestrian and two-wheeler.

The precinct faces significant pressure from two factors: unauthorized

additions, especially in the front porches and balconies, and the demand for

more car parking spaces. The covering and building upon of open spaces

within the plots is also a threat to the integrity of the precinct.


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The most significant transformation of the street is taking place because of the

proposed 12m width. Once an old building is demolished, the new building is

required to be set back from the original street edge. This poses a double

threat to the street; not only does the demolition of an old building mean that

the heritage property itself is lost, but even the morphology of the street is

radically altered. In such a situation, there is the threat of a complete erasure

of the heritage.

The required set back from the street edge has become operative in the plots

where new apartments have been constructed. If there is a reversal of this

development control, the widened street at these locations could provide the

required amount of parking. However, the organization and management of

such a parking system would be a challenge, as it would require a cooperative

framework to be agreed upon by the property owners. Defining the

appropriate uses for the front setback would be an important part of the

action plan, in the absence of which there is a threat of new encroachments

and expansions.

1.6. BUILT FORM AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN

The plots along the street are narrow and deep and most of them have houses

with sloping roofs. Many of the houses have a high plinth and the entrance is

through a sit-out/veranda. These verandas act as places for interaction

between the residents/occupants and the passers-by. Balconies of the first

floor also add to the interaction between the individual house and the street.

The built form varies between two basic types: the street-facing multi-

storeyed block, and the blocks that are behind the first line of buildings, where

the houses overlook individual or shared open spaces. Essentially, both

alternatives are derived from the basic architectural relationship between

built-form and open space.

Another characteristics of the built form comes from the settlement pattern,

whereby the street front provides access to other plots and clusters of plots


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immediately behind. Narrow lanes negotiate the gaps between old building

blocks to provide access to spaces and buildings at the rear. The street façade

is, therefore, regularly punctured. The distinction between individual blocks,

yet the maintenance of a street morphology, is a unique characteristic of the

Jama Masjid Road. It can be seen how the colonial form of urbanism prevalent

in the historic districts in Mumbai, which required unified and continuous

street facades, might have influenced this form of loose street formation. The

multivalency of the street – as a linear space connecting two spatial nodes, as

a space punctured by subsidiary movement patterns, as a bounded space with

interpenetration of open and closed spaces – contributes to the richness of

the architectural experience.

The architecture of the religious buildings that dot the landscape does not

presently contribute to the street experience as much as it can, partly

because, apart from the Jama Masjid, these are partly hidden by boundary

walls or set into the residential fabric behind the first line of buildings.

The built form is presently marred by inappropriate addtions and alterations

and the proliferation of cables suspened between the buldings and badly

placed street lights. Signages are in all variety of styles, although this may be

an element worth preserving; even by encouraging all properties to have

name plates.

The 21st century is amply evident through the presence of dish antennae and

air conditioning units spourting from roofs and facades. Windows have

become enclosed with box grills, and there is a profusion of rolling shutters

and sloping GI lean-to structures, especially on the Dudh Naka end of the

street.

Some of the gaps betwen buidings, which are not access points and do not

lead to spaces behind the buildings, have become dumping sites for waste. A

waste management strategy will be integral to the Action Plan. A strategy will

also have to be adopted to deal with the compulsory provision of rainwater

harvesting and groundwater recharge structures in each property. There is a


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possibility that, given the heritage character of the precinct, the KDMC can

allow for community-level water-harvesting systems.

A significant factor that will determine the shape of the Action Plan will be the

number of sites on which buildings have already been demolished and are

lying vacant. A stay on construction on these sites would be an important

interim measure. However, it would be important for the KDMC, the owners

and the local residents to work together to determine the land-use for those

plots.

1.7. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

The most compelling characteristic of the precinct is the evidence of a large

number of buildings that bear marks of age and tradition.

It abounds with interesting architectural features such as timber pillars and

brackets, tall wooden windows, carved and painted decoration, fretwork, and

the sloping terracotta tiled roofs. The houses are built in various styles, partly

influenced by colonial architecture but more a result of the proliefration of the

visual language of architecture in the 19th and early 20th century in India,

VIEW OF STREET FROM DUDH NAKA END

VIEW OF STREET LOOKING TOWARDS THE BANDAR


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which produces a tropical vernacular of the coastal regions. These are mostly

two to three floored buildings, reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th

century era of composite masonry, timber and concrete construction. The

buildings are built to deal with the climate, with deep overhangs to provide

shade, large openings to provide ventilation, and honprific public gestures like

the sit-outs at street level. The

perfection of technique that is

evident in some of the buildings also

show that a high level of

craftsmanship was available to the

builders of Kalyan during its

ascendance. (Whether the beautiful

ageing process that is manifest in

some of the distinctive houses should itself be preserved, will be an issue that

will be addressed at a later stage.)

The street itself has a distinct character, with minor undulations caused by

buildings laid along a notional straight line. Its ends are presently marked by

two structures. On the river side, by a small shop and residence, and on the

Dudh Naka, by an unused structure that has arches set squarely to face down

the street towards the river. It is almost as if at some point there must have

been a spectacular view of the river from

that vantage point.

The developments at the two ends of the

street are quite different. On the western

end, throughout Laxmi Narayan Road, there

is a larger concentration of buldings that still

retain their authenticity and their structural

integrity. There are fewer heritage

structures on the Jama Masjid Road, but

despite the mutilations of the facades and


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the additins and alterations, these buildings are still integral to the street

character.

The existence of several distinctive houses has already been recorded by

Sanjay Udamale in his report on heritage listing for MMR-HCS. The

architectural character of the street seems to have been modified

substantially from that recoreded iby him. However, the houses that have

been listed as heritage properties – Dolare House, Fangari House, Phalke

Wada –– are limited in number, and a more inclusive listing is required, that

also takes into account such gems as the Art Deco house at the corner of

Mohammad Hasan Tanki Marg. This house not been listed, but requires close

attention, as it is a superb rendition of the popularised version of the Art Deco

of the early 20th century.

DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

1.7.1. Sloping Roofs

Te predominant type of roof is the tiled sloping

roof supported by a timber framework, often

with beautifully carved eavesboards. The

transformtion of the precinct is also marked by

the increasing prevalence of corrugated

asbestos and G.I. sheets as the roof finish.

However, the supporting framework in many

houses is in good state of preservation and

the roofs can be restored.

1.7.2. Street Profile

The changing street profiles along its short length are a distinctive feature of

Jama Masjid Road. The undulations in the street frontage are reflective of the

variety of responses to the national street edge that has been created over

time.


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1.7.3. Windows

A crucial feature of the houses is the variety of windows. These are usually

well cordinated with the structural grid of pillars and remarkable well-

proportioned and postioned on the facades. Many are elegant timber square-

frames with double shutters. These also accommodate shutters from floor to

sill level, which allow for enhanced ventilation when necessary and when

privacy allows. The glass in the windows is also of various types, from stained

glass to textured glass.

1.7.4. Sit-out and Verandas

The experience of the street is greatly enhanced by the sit-outs and verandahs

that face the street and form the common feature at the ground floor level.

These verandahs are integrated into the built mass of the house rather than as

portico additions to the main block, and they mark the transition and

threshold for the houses, which are usually raised on a substantial plinth. This

ubiquitous feature, which is retained in most houses despite additions and

alterations, also marks the continuance of the climatic conditions that make

such features practically desirable. The preservation of this feature would

therefore be a possible and desirable action in the precinct.

1.8. STRUCTURAL CHARACTER

Although an accurate statement about the structural character of the

buildings would be possible only after the detailed condition analysis (Stage

2), it is possible at this juncture to make broad observations.

The standard structural system is of the trabeated type; however, arches are

found in a lot of the buildings, more as ways to span openings rather than to

create the structure itself. It is evident that, as a supplier of raw materials to

Mumbai, builders in Kalyan also had the benefit of choice in terms of materials

of construction. Timber is used in many strcutures as the primary material,

whereas the use of reinforced concrete and pre-cast concrete elements is also


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widely observed. In both masonry-and-timber and masonry-and-concrete

structures, there is a prevalence of decorative features on columns, pillars,

capitals, bases, window surrounds, eaves and railings. The moulding of

concrete to create copings and cornices and the carved woodwork on eaves

and pillars are some of the elements that create the beauty of the street

architecture.

The rhythm of wooden pillars and concrete columns both create a syncopated

rhythm on the street facade. The columnar features are highlighted even if

they are enclosed by masonry, and this brings down the scale of mutli-

storeyed strucures into proportion with the people walking on th street.

The state of the structural elements is fairly well preserved in those buildings

that are still being used and might have undegone minor modifications.

Where substantial alterations have occured, the structural stability cannot yet

be measured. At many places the strucure has become completely hidden.

Where the supporting frameworks for the roof has been weakened by wear

and tear, a substantial restoration effort may required.

1.9. SOCIO-CULTURAL CHARACTER

The Jama Masjd Road precinct has become a predominantly Muslim

neighbourhood, although it is evident that in the past, the local community

was more diverse. The presence of different religious institutions bears

testimony to that. The level

of integration between the

memebers of the local

community will become

eivdent on closer

interaction.

The Jama Masjid in the

centre and the dargah’s on


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the western end of the street are active cetres of the community life, which

spills out on the street on occassion. The street itself does not seem to be a

disputed place, as every household maintains the limits of its territory. Apart

from the street itself, there is no other public space which serves all the

resindets, thus making the street space itself the most important component

of the heritage, requiring protection and elaborate management.

The larger numbers of front porches and verandahs at street level which have

been enclosed with wooden, masinry or metal facades is an indication of the

reducing vibrancy of community life on the street. Similarly, the regime of

suspicion and fear that marks public space in Indian cities is evident here, with

the residents rarely using the lower panels of the windows in their houses,

which would be efficient for ventilation but would expose the residents to

invasion of privacy.

The socio-cultural character of the neighbourhood will determine the

effectiveness of the Action Plan, and the most important step in the process is

to establish a dialogue and communication amongst the residents, between

the residents and the consultants, and between the residents and the KDMC.

1.10. A NOTE ON OWNERSHIP

The ownership pattern requires detailed information, however, it is evident

from initial meetings with some residents that there are a lot of properties

which are either unoccupied because their ownwers are residing elsewhre in

the country or abroad, are under long-time rentals, or are owned by multiple

families staking their claims to joint family property. While the local land

records may be used to show the registered owners, it will be important to get

a clear idea of the nature of tenency in the precinct.


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1.11. A NOTE ON PRESENT PRECINCT BOUNDARY

It has been mentioned in the Introduction that the Jama Masjid Road precimct

and its conservation will require a broader examination of its context within

the ‘congested area’ and along the riverfront. The present precinct boundary

is assuming a depth of one building from the street and is terminating in a

nebulous area on both ends. The terminations will have to be examined

carefully, as they require different aproaches.

The precinct boundary along the riverfront may require to be more expansive,

considering that it is part of the precinct’s natural context. The provisions of

the CRZ will also need to be exmained for their implications for the precinct,

especially with regard to the suggestion in the CDP (page 45) that the Ulhas

river should be used for navigation and public transport. This provision, if

appropriately combined with the provisions of the CRZ, could yield a

significant component of the Action Plan.

On the Dudh Naka end also there is a need to examine the actual

constitutents of the bazaar and the reglisiou and other places that are in close

proximity to the Dudh Naka.

Prima facie, the existing boundary seems inadequate for the properr

management of the precinct and will need modification.


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2.0 RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY & CONSULTATIONS

The USC team has visited Kalyan on a number of ocassions during the Inception phase.

The first encounter with the precinct was recorded through photographs and videos.

Some of the first impressions and the noticeable features are contained in the Annexure

5 (‘Site Plan and Images’).

USC has established contact with several officials of the KDMC and working towards

setting up further consultations with these and other officials who were unavailable

earlier. Further, USC has also conducted discussions with and received inputs from

functionaries of the MMR-HCS. A few local residents have also been consulted on an

informal basis during the field visits.

The following persons have been consulted till date:

KDMC officials:

o Mr. P. Kulkarni (E.E. – Water Supply & Sanitation)

o Mr. Pramod Upadhyaya (A.E. – Water Supply & Sanitation)

o Mr. Bhagwat (A.T.P. – Town Planning)

o Mr. Laad (Media & Communications)

MMR-HCS:

o Mr. Prasad Shetty

o Ms. Shreya Bhatia

Local Residents:

o Mr. Javed Jaune (Ex. Deputy Mayor)

o Mr. Faizan Maulvi

o Mr. Naophil Patel

The local rsidentes that have been consulted are a vital first step for the next stage of

work. USC expects to establish a citizen’s group that will assist the condition analysis and

the preparation of the Action Plan. This will be the most challenging task, as the

stakeholders are likely to encounter conflicts in terms of ownership, implementation of

the Plan and other aspects.


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3.0 DETAILED METHODOLOGY

The main structure of the methodology has been clearly defined by the MMR-HCS in the

TORs for the project. The main stages have been outlined in the appropriate sequence

as follows:

1. DETAILED CONDITION ASSESSMENT

2. EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE

3. IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES

4. PREPARATION OF ACTION PLAN

5. DRAFTING GUIDELINES

The Detaied Condition Assessment provides the foundation to the entire exercise,

whereby we shall undertake a detailed documentation of the precinct, as per the

presently defined boundary, and will explore the possible boundaries that would

strengthen the exercise. The docuemntation will be preceded by an intensive interaction

with the local community and the KDMC and other officials and stakehodlers. This will

help in establishing their ownership of the process and will create confidence for the

process being adopted and the purpose behind the Action Plan. Unless the community

finds a collective comfort in the process, the Action Plan will not have the required

support.

The Evaluation of Significance will evaluate the documented precinct from various

perspectives: architectural, historical, cultural, socio-political and demographic,

technological, environmental and economic. A recommended listing of properties

requriing different actions will be placed before the stakeholders. The community and

other stakeholders will decide on the desirable actions for each property and the larger

precinct as a whole. Detailed and empirically determined analysis will yield the strengths

and opportunities in the precinct, with spcial attention to the economic, cultural,

regulatory, institutional and environmental aspects of the process.


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The Identification of Issues on all aspects of the project will yield a list of actions that

are required for the conservation of the precinct. This will also involve the categorisation

of the issues as per the reqyired urgency and their priority within the Action Plan.

The Preparation of the Action Plan will take into account the findings of all the earlier

stages: detailed documentation, evaluation of significance and identification of issues.

The Action Plan will comrpise a number of components, including the following:

Vision and Strategies for conservation of Jama Masjid Road precinct

Broad actions that are required, including policy, regulations, projects and

programmes

Prioritisation and phasing of the projects and programmes

Block estimates for the projects and programmes including capital investment

required and O&M costs

Identification of financial sources for implementation of the projects and

programmes. This too will involve the local community, as they will be intimately

involved with the financial operating plan and can become stakeholders not only

in spirit but also in terms of income and expenditure.

Institutional mechanisms will have to be found for the appropriate and efficient

implementation of the Action Plan. These will be anticipatory and

recommendatory at first, and after dicsussion with the stkrholder, especially the

KDMC, they will be finalised.

A clear timeline will need to be established for the execution of the Action Plan,

with immediate focus on the actions required urgently and on top priority, within

the year 2011-12.

The final stage in the process will involve the Drafting of Heritage Guidelines which can

be incorporated into the GDCR (General Development Control Regulations) for the

KDMC area. The guidelines will derive from a number of aspects of the Action Plan, such

as the determining of land use, constraints on retrofitting and redevelopment,

responsibility for maintenance and repair, measures requiring sharing of ownership and


Page | 23

responsibility, measures to ensure that the management of the precinct is aligned with

best practices and can esnure the full implemnetation of the Action Plan.

The drafting of guidelines will be facilitated by USC’s prior experience in the field,

whereby it has formulated the heritage policy and guidelines for the Surat Municipal

Corporation in Gujarat.


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4.0 NEXT STEPS

The next stage in the process of Preparation of Action Plan for conservation of Jama

Masjid Road Precinct involves a DETAILED CONDITION ASSESSMENT, comprising of a

detailed documentation of the precinct in consultation with the local community.

The Draft Detailed Condition Assessment (Output 1) is to be completed in 12 weeks.

The results of Stage 2 (Output 1) will define the existing condition of the precinct

and will determine the practical aspects of the project, thus:

o Detailed Base Map of the precinct, comprising overlays of

‘As-built’ drawings of present condition (created by USC team)

Property maps (obtained from KDMC)

Development Plan (obtained from KDMC)

Satellite imagery (obtained from public domain)

o Spatial nodes

street termination points

street junctions

public landmarks (religious institutions, graveyards, planned police station, open spaces, trees)

o Cultural practices

Jama Masjid Road as a public space: celebration, congregation, assembly

o Existing Infrastructure

roads and lanes

drains and underground services

overhead services (cables, lights)

o Demographics: listing of occupants of each property

o Transformations in the property

o Details of Land-use

conforming and non-conforming land use

planned land use

mixed land use

mapping of activities (type, duration, timings, persons involved)

o Details, elevations, axonometric views


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o Heritage characteristics

special architectural features

special buildings

special spatial nodes

The Draft Detailed Condition Assessment, to be submitted in the form of 12 hard copies

and 3 soft copies (CD-ROM), will present a comprehensive documentation of the

precinct and will lay the grounds for discussions about the policies, regulations,

management structures and financial models that can contribute to the preparation of

an Action Plan for Jama Masjid Road.


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5.0 REFERENCES

Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, (2001), Draft Development Plan for Kalyan, under committee appointed by Government of Maharashtra, submitted U/S 30 of M.R. and T.P. act 1966

Udamale, Sanjay (2002-3), Conserving Urban Heritage of Kalyan, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Heritage Conservation Society and Kalyan Heritage Society, Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India

Patil, Subhash & Associates, (2006), City Development Plan for Kalyan Dombivli, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation submitted for implementation to Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India

National Institute of Urban Affairs, (2008), Appraisal of City Development Plan: Kalyan Dombivli, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India

Chainani, Shyam (2006), Heritage Legislation and Conservation, Mumbai Reader, Urban Design Research Institute, Mumbai, India

http://www.kdmc.gov.in/: Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation website

http://www.mmrdamumbai.org/: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority website

Documents

Jama Masjid Road Precinct - MMR-HCSmmrhcs.org.in/images/documents/projects/Jama-Masjid-Road-Precin… · Jama Masjid Road Precinct TASK IV. ... understood by the local population,