A STUDY OF DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN PERIPHERAL URBAN AREAS

Abstract

The emergence of Delhi as the second largest metropolis in the world raises some crucial concerns regarding its approaches to urbanization. By 2030, Delhi will serve a population of approximately 36 million.1 The continued population growth, and therefore the inevitable spread, puts pressure on the peripheral areas of the city which as a result remain in constant transition and undergo unchecked growth. Given the rapidity of change and the long-lived nature of the urban form and infrastructure, it becomes crucial to carefully design the development pattern in these newly urbanized areas. The directives for the future planning perspectives lie in a study of previous development patterns, recognising their shortcomings and providing it with flexibility to build for the future. The research tries to answer the question regarding the appropriateness of the current development patterns and the pattern/s to be followed for future. Accordingly, the research looks at the nature of growth of the city, settlement patterns in the periphery and their relationship with the main city. Firstly, the spatio-temporal patterns of population distribution and growth were studied to determine the growth trend of the city. This was followed by a study of development patterns in the peripheral residential areas in different time periods in development history, illustrating the impact of prevailing socio-economic conditions, the changes over time and highlighting the trends of settlement. After having an overview of various regions in the city, a detailed study of development patterns in four sectors of the current peripheral areas – the sub-cities of Dwarka and Rohini, was undertaken with a view to assess their relative appropriateness in terms of the various measures of urban form and pattern. The variations observed in road pattern, land use distribution, and intensity of the built form like FAR, height etc affect the quality of life within the sector. The research analyses various aspects of development pattern and studies their impact on residents based on measures like ease of accessibility, pedestrian circulation, sense of community, degree of openness etc. The correlational trends suggest how indicators like resident satisfaction and land value change with the modifications in each aspect of development pattern. The findings from the analysis at the two levels, city level and sector level, in turn provide guidelines to shape the future development pattern in the peripheral areas. The outcome of the research includes results and recommendations for the design of a sub-city and sector level planning and will act as a tool for future developments in peripheral areas.