CREATING PUBLIC SPACES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF TRANSPORT TERMINALS: A CASE IN ERNAKULAM

Abstract

Efficient transportation and good quality of public spaces are two most important aspects that affect the quality of life of people in a settlement as well as its sustainability. With increased demand for mobility of the increasing urban population and technological developments, different modes of transportation have become available. Also, adequate and good quality of public spaces is essential for meeting different needs of urban populations. By the nature of human beings always wants to have social interactions all through his life. Because of which, it is important in a human colony to deliver good public spaces, where people will meet, interact and refresh themselves. Quality and activeness of such spaces lead to healthy culture and signature of that community. Ernakulam is one of rapidly growing cities, having the potentials of multi- modal transportation (water ways, roadways and the metro line). The city can have a sustainable city transport model if a proper integration of these different modes is happening along with an idea of public space created. The city is known as the commercial hub of Kerala with a city population of 6 lakhs in an area of 94.88 Sq Km. The urban center is situated centrally in Kerala state and connected to the other major pieces of Southern India by the National Highways (17, 47 and 49), the National Rail Lines and National Waterway 3 (NW3, which is of 205 km stretch connecting Middle Kerala (Kottappuram) to South Kerala (Kollam) and is not maintained presently). Counting at the protrusions of the future transportation issues, construction of a 24.5 Km medium metro line connecting the outer part of the urban core and the internal core is on-going. The city has got a very good network of inland waterways also, for which development proposals are there by the government, for a natural, sustainable connectivity in the city and likewise in the other parts of Kerala. There are more than 5 locations where the waterways, roadways and metro station coming together and having a potential of multi- modal hub.