DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR METRO STATION AREA ACCESS PLANNING – A CASE OF DELHI

Abstract

A Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) or Metro Rail Project is expected to be the ideal solution in a congested transit corridor for a large city. MRTS majorly affects the land use, land values, accessibility, travel pattern, density, etc. The positive impacts include better accessibility of remote areas in a shorter period of time and it can have a catalytic role in urban redevelopment process. Conversely, the negative impacts can be seen if MRTS nodes are unplanned. These include congestion, rapid developments, lack of accessibility, and chaotic urban transformations within the influence zone areas of transit stations. Thus, it is critical to improve the metro station areas for a controlled development and to increase its ridership. Higher footfall and better accessibility planning will lead to more transit ridership. In view of the above challenges, a systematic study is required to analyze the road conditions and urban built form within the influence zones of metro stations. This will provide us with a set of guidelines to undertake and implement the future developments in an organized and sustainable manner along the planned nodes and access roads. The need of the study lies in understanding the issues in metro station area access planning focusing on NMT infrastructure and amenities. To understand the issues faced by the metro commuters, two stations on the Yellow line of Delhi Metro have been selected namely Saket and Vishwavidyalaya based on their ridership, predominant land use pattern, and development potential. The aim of the study is to prepare station area access plans with the motive of ease of cycling and walking. This will be achieved through walkable neighbourhoods which are pedestrian and cycle friendly, and allow safe and comfortable access to all NMT users. The methodological approach adopted was the comparison of both the station areas for the existing road conditions as per the service level benchmarks and indicators derived for a performance metric system. The streets were prioritized for the level of interventions required to improve the NMT network in the station areas. This research is an attempt to provide context specific proposals for each station area due to a paradigm shift towards area based planning. A suitable development framework was also adopted and modified as per the Indian context to replicate proposals and recommendations to station areas of similar urban conditions. The study focused on the economic analysis of the proposals made, and also identified the concerned implementing and funding agencies. The study will enable planners and policy makers to learn about the issues in first mile connectivity through real life case studies and prepare future plans of action.