URBAN DESIGN ASSIGNMENT

VARANASI DEVELOPMENT PLAN

ANALYSIS

Avanita Sharma 1652

Introduction : City Data :

Varanasi also known as Benares is a city on the banks of the

river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India, 320 kilometres (200 mi)
south-east of the state capital, Lucknow, and 121 kilometres (75
mi) east of Allahabad. A major religious hub in India, it is the
holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism.

City Level Tier 2 city

Area 163.8 km²

Metropolis Population 11.98 lakhs

Urban 15.73 lakhs

Agglomeration Pop.

Density 2,395 people per sq.Km

Avg. temperature 26.1 °C

Elevation 80.71 metres (264.8 ft)

above sea level

Precipitation 1100 mm per year

Historic Profile

HISTORICAL
GROWTH
1961-1991 1991-2011 2006 2011-2031 2015

I Master Plan II Master Plan City Development III Master Plan City Development
1961-1991 1991-2011 Plan 2006 2011-2031 Plan 2015 projected
projected for for 2041
1st Master plan 2nd Master plan 2021 3rd Master plan 2nd gen City Development
established for Varanasi established for Varanasi 1st City Development established for Varanasi Plan
City City Made Jawaharlal Nehru
Plan City
National Urban Renewal Made by Ministry of
Made by the Varanasi Made by the Varanasi Mission (JNNURM) Made by the Varanasi Urban Development,
Development Authority Development Authority Development Authority Government of India and
The World Bank
 Administrative Boundary :
The draft Master Plan 2031 Area of Delineation Area
formulated by the
Varanasi Varanasi Municipal Corporation(VMC) 82.1
ADMINISTRATIVE VMC
Development Authority (VDA)
COMPONENTS: Varanasi Urban Agglomeration (VUA) 112.6 VUA
defines the Varanasi
Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) - 82.1 SQM Development Region (VDR) with
90
Varanasi Urban Agglomeration (VUA) - 112.26 SQM an area 793 Sq. Km.
Varanasi Master Plan - Operative - 246.46 SQM
Total Varanasi
Development Region (VDR) - 793 SQM ZONES OF VARANASI AS PER MASTER PLAN 2031
ZONES BASED ON ZONES ON
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICE
DISTRIBUTION
Location and Connectivity: Varanasi is well connected by road, rail and airways.
● National highways: NH-2, NH-56 and NH-29
LINKAGES TO ● State highways: SH-87, SH-73, SH-74 and SH-
VMC 98
The linkages include:
○ NH 2- G.T. from Mughal Sarai to Allahabad
○ NH 29- Varanasi to Gorakhpur, Kushinagar
○ NH 56- Varanasi to Jaunpur Lucknow.

ROAD NETWORK LOCATION OF

( masterplan RAILWAY STATIONS
2011)
 Traffic and Transportation ROAD DENSITY ANALYSIS

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT ROAD HIERARCHY

Total length of the roads (VMC) Peripheral area

area 1180 km, - Low road density
- Some hierarchy
Inner Ring Road – The ring
road alignment is Raj
that-Ramnagar-BHU-DLW-Cant
Station-Raj Ghat. The bridge on Core/Old city
river Ganga is being constructed. - High road density
- No hierarchy
Outer Ring Road – From Kachua on - Low-No Parking
NH2 and intersect Lucknow, Azamgarh
and Ghazipur highways.

TRAFFIC CONGESTION
ANALYSIS SPOTS Central area
- Less road density
than old city
- No hierarchy
-More spaced
roads

Junction node

Peripheral Central Old City

area area
 Climate : Topography and geology:
● Humid subtropical climate with large
Topography Map Elevation Map Varanasi is located in
variations between summer and winter
● temperatures. the middle Ganga
● Dry summer: April - June, 22 and 46 °C valley,along the left
● Monsoon season: July - October. crescent-shaped bank
● (1100mm) Winters: December-February of the river Ganges.
Wind direction is W- SW.

River system :
Ganga,Gomti.
Tributaries : Varuna,
Asi, Banganga,
Chandra Prabha,
Karmanasa.

Soil:
Geologically, Varanasi is situated in the fertile
alluvial Gangetic plains and is under laid with
sediments deposited in successive stages. Layers of
clay, fine sand, and clay mixed with kankar.

ANALYSIS

● Fertile land supports agriculture

● Urban growth on the convex bank is
less because of erosion and sand
deposit
 Demographic Profile : Growth rate

CENSUS DATA 2011

Change from 1990 - 2020

GROWTH
DECLINE
Pop. projection

Age-Sex triangle

Present day growth

GROWTH
Projected growth
 Economic Profile
VARANASI INDUSTRIAL PROFILE
MAIN INDUSTRIAL AREAS
SILK WEAVING INDUSTRY WEAVING CLUSTERS
● 60% of the total
● production of silk woven
products in India.
● Caters to the needs of the domestic
○
as well asunorganized small market.
the international units
○
Consists integrated units
of
● High amount of bonded labour ; set
up within households. .
HEALTH AND
EDUCATION
● Banaras Hindu University
● Sampurnanand Sanskrit University
● Kashi Vidyapeeth DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES
● Central University for Tibetan Studies
INFORMAL COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES
● Local traditional crafts-manufacturing WORKER CLASSIFICATION
● Local Traditional crafts-retail areas
● Retail areas for the consumer goods
● Retail areas for the durable goods
● Wholesale areas for food grains and
spices
● Local culinary hotspots
● Street vending areas in almost all
neighbouring abutting arterial
roads
Physical planning: Old City / Central city GROWTH
PATTERN

Water Linear
bodies

Settlement
Points of
distribution
inflexion Overlap
Radial radial
+linear

AREA OF
DELINEATION
Road
patterns

ROAD PATTERNS

Tree
pattern

Network
pattern
Spatial growth trends

COMPARATIVE LAND USE PATTERNS ACROSS MASTER

PLANS

PHYSICAL GROWTH OF
VARANASI
Land Use Analysis Settlement distribution

Old /Core
VARANASI MASTER PLAN 2031 city
Cant
.

Industry
and
commerce
Housing

Road
Network
Institutional
Area

Open Space Water bodies

old city

Residential
Land Use Analysis

KEY ISSUES

According to the Draft Master Plan,

2031:
● Total land under residential use reduced from 51.6% to 40%.
● Area under recreation has been increased from 5% to 20%.
● A new use category of mixed land use has been introduced in the draft Master Plan 2031,
which primarily includes the area in the old city.
● Also, the above mentioned increase in the recreational area as per draft Master Plan, 2031 has
not been proposed for the old city and recreational/open space facility continues to be lacking
in this area.
Housing and Urban Poverty DISTRIBUTION OF SLUMS

HOUSING STATISTICS
The core area of the city is very
congested, which is highly densified.
Though there is no scope for further
development in the old city area,
developmental activities taking place
in these areas are causing more
stress on present infrastructure.

SOCIAL DISTRIBUTION

SLUM STATISTICS
CONDITION OF SLUMS
GOVT SCHEMES FOR SLUM REHABILITATION

Schemes that are being implemented are Sarv Jan Hitay Gareeb Avas
(Slum Area), Malikana Haq Yojna Manywar (MKDBBSVY), and Shri Kanshi
Ramji Shahri Avas Yojna. DUDA is responsible for the implementation of
such schemes. After implementing these schemes, DUDA hands over the
responsibility of providing services to VMC and Jal Kal.

As per the draft Master Plan-2031, a total area of 9886.54 hectare has
been allocated for housing purposes. Of this, 60% of the area has been
developed and the balance 40% will be inhabited over the period of
time.
Social Infrastructure EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES
Social and cultural environment of the city Varanasi has an overall literacy rate of 79% (male literacy:
includes health services, education status and role 83%, female literacy: 75%).
of various agencies involved in the service
provision. There are three departments involved in providing
HEALTH education
FACILITIES ● District Inspector
Joint Director, of –Schools
GoUP Looks after schools
The public sector health services in Varanasi include (DIOS)
facilities of the state ● -classes 9th and above.
● Department of Medical, Health and Family BSA - classes 1st to
Welfare 8th.
3 main universities:
● ESI,Central Govt Facilities ● Banaras Hindu University
● Railway and Cantonment facilities. ● Sampurnanand Sanskrit University
● Many private sector facilities ● Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth
○ (hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics)

HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE

RECREATION
FACILITIES
● Sports: Sports facilities are mainly made available in
schools to students.
● Malls and parks: There are four malls and many
other commercial centres in Varanasi. The malls
HEALTH INFRA EDUCATION GAP
house
GAP retail stores, restaurants, food courts and
cinema theatre.
● Museums: Varanasi has two museum
○ Sarnath Museum
○ Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU.
 SANITATION FACILITIES IN SEWERAGE LAND FILL
Assessment of urban services THE CORE NETWORK SITES

The VMC is responsible for provision of basic services such as

water supply, sewerage, SWM, SWD and roads.

The DUDA is responsible for provision of housing in slum areas and

the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam is responsible for planning and
construction of water supply, sewerage and storm water drains.

WATER SEWERAGE AND

SUPPLY SANITATION
● More than 100 years old when it was ● Divided into two zones: cis-Varuna and trans-
introduced in year 1892. It was designed for a Varuna.
population of 2 lakhs ● Existing system is partly over ground and
● With increase in population and the underground. 30% coverage
corresponding water demand Ministry of Urban ● 18% of the total households do not have access
Development City Development Plan for to independent, shared, or community toilets.
Varanasi, ● The trans-Varuna area is completely without
● capacities of different units were increased sewerage. WASTE WATER WATER
from time to time along with reorganization
and the extension of distribution system. TREATMENT TREATMENT

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STORM WATER DRAINS

● waste generated comprises biodegradable, ● Poor storm water drainage system.

compostable, and recyclable ● Old and incomplete underground and kachcha
materials. (religious and vegetable waste and open drainage system.(117km)
● plastic ) 600 TPD of waste is generated. ● Drains connected to branch sewers lleads to the
● Karsada disposal site is located 20 Km away mixing of sewage with storm water.
on a 40 acre site. ● Empty directly into river Ganga and river Varuna
● The open drains are unlined and contaminate the
ground water
● Carry grey water discharged from the settlements
along their path
 DISTRIBUTION OF
DISTRIBUTION OF TOURIST
Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism INFORMATION CENTRES
TEMPLES

Varanasi heritage entails famous Ghats, Historic

properties,Houses and streetscapes of the area
adjoining the Ghats, temples, Kunds, and all cultural
practices and expressions that take place in these
properties and areas. There are in all 1564 number of
heritage properties in Varanasi.

HERITAGE Riverfront heritage zone can be divided into

six sub-zones :
ZONES

● Rural Buffer District

● Landscape conservation district
Sarnath
● 5.5 km long crescent shaped basin of the
Ganga river from Nagwa to Raj Ghats,
● 5.3 km stretch of 83 Ghats (stairways to the
● bank)
Urban Preservation Sub-Zone, the Old City Heritage YATRAS AROUND
● Sub-Zone VARANASI
Urban Buffer SubZone, a strip of 50 m to 100 m
wide from the western road
INFLOW AND
GROWTH

Ghat Area
Kabir Math Area
MONTH WISE
Riverfront INFLOW
Bhelupura Area

Durgakund
Area
Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism : GHAT
SECTION
Ghats of Varanasi
DISTRIBUTION OF GHATS

Sitala Dashwamedha Manikarnika Sankatha

Ghat Ghat Ghat Ghat

MANIKARNIKA GHAT DASHWAMEDH OF

GHAT

1863

1860s

2019
2019
Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism :
Ghats of Varanasi
KUNDS
Represent the ancient knowledge of storm water management
Many Kunds are located in the route of three yatras conducted in Varanasi, The
Panchkoshi Yatra covers the largest number of Kunds. During heavy rains, the Kunds used
to act as points of drainage for surrounding areas.
In the past, each Kund had a catchment area in its immediate surroundings and were
interconnected by underground channels through which surplus water was drained into
the river Ganges.
FESTIVALS INVITING TOURISTS
KEY ISSUES
● The number of tourists has reduced (2012 to 2013) due to
pollution, traffic congestion, flood like situation and poor roads.
● Lack of guided tours and information centres. City guides or
brochures not easily available to tourists
● Lack of signage in city ‘Galis’
● Lack of protection to heritage sites and its conservation, natural
decay and damage to properties also occur with time.
● The number of kunds is reducing every year is due to neglect,
unregulated construction in the catchment areas of the respective
● kunds, Most of the heritage properties in the inner city area face vague
ownership.
● Multiple agencies are involved in the conservation of heritage sites
with
● overlapping jurisdictions
● There is need for review of existing bye-laws
Shrinking spaces: the population growth is increasing demand
● for utilizing available land,
Threat to river Ganga: river width reduced from 225-250m to 60-
70m. Main stream has lost high speed current due to less volume
and pressure
The depth of the bed is drastically became victim of
deposition the river has already left the bank about 7-8m.

● Ganga Water Rally

● Ganga Mahotsav
● Buddha Mahotsav
● Dhrup Mela
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN TOURISM
● Ramleela of Ramnagar DEVELOPMENT
● Hanuman Jayanti
● Archaeological Survey of India
● Ministry of Tourism
● Regional Cultural Centre
● Directorate of Archaeology, Uttar Pradesh
● Varanasi Development Authority
● Varanasi Municipal Corporation
● Varanasi Heritage Cell
Sustainable development CARBON FOOTPRINT AND HEAT ISLAND
MAPPING

VARANASI’S CLIMATE
CHANGE RESILIENCE

Physical dimension
● Availability and access to electricity is
limited HEAT ISLAND MAP
● Water supplied to 75% of the city, but
may be reduced in an event of disaster
● Solid waste is collected, but not recycled zones in which Urban Heat Islands might
● Roads may increase in capacity if exist are identified.
equipped with drainage system Identifying and classifying these zones is
important in identifying areas that have
a more prominent need to install
Social dimension
heat-mitigating infrastructure.
● <23% of the population suffers from
water-borne or vector- borne disease
● < 75% of the population has access to
primary health infrastructure
● It would benefit further if public
awareness/disaster drills are initiated
by VMC

Economic dimension
● 24% live below poverty line
● Employment rate is 18%
● Households have basic
AIR QUALITY INDEX
housing infrastructure

Air quality as observed is poor in central

Institutional dimension
● Emergency teams are limited in their
capacity to deal with a disaster
● Disaster management plan is not
sufficiently implemented
and core areas of the city due to lack of
Natural dimension greenery.
● City prone to floods, heat waves, and droughts Air quality improves in peripheral areas
● Quality level of urban biodiversity, soil, and water
bodies are moderately affected by the ongoing
development process
SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS STRENGTHS WEAKNESS

● Religious, spiritual and educational centre- High importance

● Heritage treasures of the city- High importance ● ● Old city of Varanasi has very cramped spaces.
The core of the city houses the
● Agrarian based surroundings support the trade and commerce of cash crops population that is part of the urban fabric ● There is immense pressure from tourism,
-Medium importance of the city economic development and population on the
● Varanasi city is the regional centre for Purvanchal districts- Medium importance ● Tourism potential: For all religions, River ghat area
● The city is well connected with road and railway network- Medium importance Ganga, the Ghats and other sites-Ashoka ● Lack of support infrastructure such as quality
Pillar, Sarnath etc. roads for better access and facilities for
● Weaving industry is a major contributor tourists-rest rooms, toilets, hotels, etc.
● Poor Infrastructure services are such
WEAKNESS to
as high
local economy
● A perennial water source in River Ganga so water losses, poor coverage of toilets, and
● Lack of coordination between ULB and Parastatals agencies with respect to ● absence of door to door waste collection
availability of water will never be a problem
Urban transport management ● Lack of coordination while planning and
Tremendous amount of heritage treasures
● Basic services such as water supply, sewerage and sanitation are lacking ● initiating development work among
● It is important to provide better facilities to
● Core city is already saturated with high density and congestion related issues ● authorities
the people of old city.
● Low Conducive environment for habitation and Industrial activity ● Quality of life might decline further
Population growth in old city has saturated
and the growth of population is In the event of any natural disaster, the core
decelerating ● area without any planning would be impacted
OPPORTUNITIES ● Tourism:Established tourism most.
base used well. ● Traffic management is crucial during fairs and
● Foreign tourists festivals
CBUD project and potentiality to be receive funds under NUM/Smart city
● Appropriate measures such as conservation Increasing population is over burdening the
and rain water harvesting can recharge the ● carrying capacity of the urban environment and
ground water as well. the river ecosystem
THREAT Unplanned mass tourism can have a hard
S ● impact
● Ineffective disposal system could create environmental hazard on the cultural carrying capacity of the old city
● Spurring squatter settlements due to seasonal migration of unskilled labour centre
force Non availability of sanitation facilities
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