George Town(Chennai)

Redevelopment plan
Farhana.k 2120200095
Navin Kumar 2120200110

Area Re-Development Plan

Area Re-Development Plan is a technical and political process concerned with
the use of land and design of urban environment , including air and water and
infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas such as transportation and
distribution networks.
A council that does Area re-development plan consider:
designate an area of the municipality as a redevelopment area for the purpose of any or all of the following:
(i) preserving or improving land and buildings in the area;
(ii) rehabilitating buildings in the area;
(iii) removing buildings from the area;
(iv)constructing or replacing buildings in the area;
(v)establishing, improving or relocating roads, public utilities or other services in the area;
(vi)facilitating any other development in the area,

10/09/15

Introduction- Profile

10/09/15

With the construction of one of India's major

port and George fort, the region became an
important naval base for the British. George
town became the core area of Chennai.

George Town

Major Locations

Source: Wikipedia

Commercial Corridors
Relationship of commercial
land use and the temple
locations

The commercial corridors

Sathangadu

George Town

Koyambedu
T-Nagar
Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city A spatial
Analysis of the relationship between temples and retail
Activity

Commercial Corridors
Relationship of commercial
land use and the temple
locations

The commercial corridors

Sathangadu

George Town

Koyambedu
T-Nagar
Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city A spatial
Analysis of the relationship between temples and retail
Activity

History
Spatial Growth pattern from core area

1600-the city was formed of a few scattered settlements

separated by long distances. Each settlement grew
around the nucleus of a religious institution especially of
a temple. The most important part at that time was
Mylapore.
1639-Francis Daywas looking for somewhere to build a
fortified warehouse for theEnglishEast India
Company, he soon acquired the land, where in 1640 he
built the compound namedFort St George.
Soon after it was built, a township began to grow up
outside it for the natives catering to the needs of the
Europeans inside, and this became known as theBlack
Town(George town).
By the early 18th century, with a growing population
and commercial activities, there was congestion in
Black Town, resulting in dispersion of some of the
population to neighboring areas.
A fishing hamlet existed at the present site of George
Town called as Chennai Patanam, from which the name of
Chennai was derived.
By 1733, George Town became very congested and the
weaving community started settling in Chintadripet
area where lot of open space was available for their
activities. The washer men, who were in the Mint area

In 1773, the English erected 13 pillars along the flattened area

of the Black Town and banned construction in any form
between the pillars and the fort which would otherwise block
the view of possible invaders.
Potters from this area moved outside the Fort on the north
side and formed a new colony named Kosapet.
When the Frenchoccupied Madras in 1746 and returned it to
the Englishin 1749 in exchange for Quebecby the Treaty of
Aex-La-Chapel, the English flattened a part of Black Town in
order to have a clear field for fire in the event of a future
attack.
Soon a new township, known as the new Black Town, came
up beyond these pillars and the old Black Town gave way
to theMadras high court.

In 1800 especially after the inception of Municipal

Corporation, the development of the city began.
A thoroughfare was formed along the stretch between the
pillars and the high court. which later became theChina
Bazar road.

Several Tamil refugees from Burma, who fled Myanmar during the early
sixties, arrived in George Town.
In 1969, theBurma Bazar, a market selling imported foreign goods in
shops on pavements, was established by these Burmese refugeesturned-entrepreneurs.
Relocation of wholesale activities in Vegetable, Fruit and Flower from CBD to Koyambedu
and City bus stand from CBD to Koyambedu have been carried out; Iron and Steel Market
at Sathangadu was developed. Truck terminal at Madhavaram was made operational.

Old map of George town

A street in George town

Plan of Fort St George and the

city of Madras in 1726

Issues in George Town

10

Traffic Congestion in George town due to narrow roads.

Congestion due to commercial activities
Poor Infrastructure facilities
On-street vendors, soaring prices
poor sanitation
non-availability of land
Lack of Pedestrian facilities.
On-street Parking issues
Informal activities are high in George town area.
Improper maintenance of Heritage Buildings.

Street in George town

Coral Merchant Street (Transport and shipping

offices)

Angappa naicken street (masjid, textile,

eateries)

Mannadi Street (Textiles, imported

goods, eateries)

Linghi chetty street (steel hardware, electric motors and

pump sets)

12

Strategic proposals

The CMDA removed encroachments from the satellite township of Maraimalai

Nagar, central business district of George Town, Koyambedu market complex.

The CMDA has sought the help of the Chennai Corporation and the police to
evict the traders from Badrian Street and wholesale flower traders in George
Town, as per court orders.

CMDA Shifted the wholesale market from George town to Koyambedu Market.

CMDA shifted Iron and Steel market to Sathangadu.

CMDA announced Road Widening to reduce traffic congestion .

Strategies were adopted not to affect heritage buildings by Chennai Metro Rail
Ltd (CMRL).

Shift of flower and vegetable market to Koyambedu

Badrian Street

Koyambedu Market

10/09/15

Similarity between one town

George Town

George Town and its extension

southwards into Anna Salai
together constitute the central
business district of the City
where most of the wholesale
trade, specialised retail trade
and banking and financial
institutions are located and
where commercial activity is
intense.

One town

One town is also specialized in

Commercial retail and
wholesale activities and is the
core area of Vijayawada.

Krishna riverfront development

Koovum(Buckingham canal)
riverfront development.

Roads are narrow in the streets Condition of Roads in One-town

of
George townis poor
are also
poor
condition.
Infrastructure
towninhas
poor
One
infrastructure in terms of storm
water drains.
George town has heritage
One town include Heritage
structures like Fort St George,
buildings like temples.
Madras high court, museum,
Thousand Lights mosque and
Theosophical Society and and
has five temples .

Lessons learnt

Congestion in one-town can be reduced by promoting mixed

land use.

Encroachments can be shifted from the Road side to Gandhi

mahila kalashala;which is an open area as it has good
connectivity as in Kaleshwara Rao market.

Infrastructure can be improved.

References

Structure of Chennai.Chapter 1. CMDA. Retrieved 24 Feb 2013.

Wikipedia

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) report

The Times of India website,

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-Metro-railallays-fears-that-tunnelling-works-will-rattle-heritagebuildings/articleshow/8113755.cms, 29 April 2011, 06.23 am, Accessed
on 22.06.2014

The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cmdaseeks-to-ramp-up-antiencroachment-drive/article5125584.ece, 14

September 2013, 09:13 am, Accessed on 13.6.2014

The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/nowwholesale-iron-merchants-are-scattered/article38783.ece, 20 June 2013,

11:24 am, Accessed on 18.06.2014

Samachar website, http://www.samachar.com/cmda-to-regulate-parkingof-trailers-in-sathangadu-mcecKLfhfje.html, 30 April 2013, 07:43 pm,

Accessed on 16.06.2014