INTRODUCTION

• PROJECT : INNER CIRCLE , CONNAUGHT PLACE

• LOCATION : At center of the city, near Karol bagh
• YEAR OF COMPLETION : work began in 1929 and was completed in 1933
• F.A.R : 250
• DESIGNED BY : Edwin Lutyen
• PURPOSE : It was designed as a showpiece of Lutyen’s Delhi with a prominent Central Business District.
 CONCEPT

• Connaught Place is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centres in New Delhi. It is often abbreviated to CP.
• It was developed as a showpiece of Lutyen’s Delhi with a prominent Central Business District.
• The place was renamed as Rajiv Chowk after the death of great Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• It is the pride of Delhi having all the major and big names in its perimeter as their head office.
• THE COMMERCIAL HUB Connaught Place was envisaged as a combination of commercial and residential buildings, modelled on the Royal Crescent in Bath,
England.
• This was designed in shape of horseshoe to bring good luck to both shoppers as well as business owners as was and still is commercial heart of the Delhi.
• It depicts the style of British architecture which was very planned and well structured.
• The plan was a two-storeyed open colonnaded structure where the ground floor would be taken up by commercial establishments while the floor above would
be given over to residents.
• Connaught Place is circular and can easily be covered on foot. It also has about 7 different large roads leading out of it connecting to various parts of the city.
• The entire CP Area, with its roads, lanes and by-lanes is an exotic labyrinth – with tons of shops tucked into nooks and corners, delicious old eating joints and
exquisite Indian handicraft and traditional clothes and jewellery shops.

1930’s 1970’s
 SITE SURROUNDINGS 10.STATE TRADING
1. SHIVAJI STADIUM
CORPORATION

SITE

2. BANGLA SAHIB GURU DWARA 9. BARAKHAMBA ROAD

6. LIC BUILDING

3. SANSAD BHAWAN

4. RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN 5. JANTAR MANTAR 7. INDIA GATE

8.JANPATH
 SITE PLAN

PARKING COMMERCIAL BLOCK

CENTRAL PARK COLONNADE WALKWAY

GREEN BELT ON
TERRACE OF PALIKA PALIKA BAZAR
 PARKING
• AUTHORIZED PARKING

• UNAUTHORIZED PARKING

• UNAUTHORIZED 3 WHEELER PARKING

• Connaught Place with its three

concentric circles and seven
radial roads initially designed
with two-way directional
roads.
• Was converted into one-way
All place around the metro stations is occupied my 3 wheelers
with 4-enteries and 3-exits
• A number of parking lots were
also generated to serve those
through radial roads.
 SPACES

The form and enclosure of each space in a building either determines, or is determined by, the form of the spaces around it.
The architecture of space
• organizational pattern, relationships, clarity, hierarchy
• formal image and spatial definition
• qualities of shape, colour, texture, scale, proportion
• qualities of surfaces, edges, and openings

COVERED SPACES SEMI-OPEN SPACES OPEN SPACES

1. TOILETS 1. COLLONADES WALKWAY 1. ROADS
2. METRO STATIONS 2. PATHWAYS
3. SHOPS/BLOCKS 3. CENTRAL PARK
4. HALKERS
5. PARKING
 1. TOILETS
COVERED SPACES

2. METRO STATION

3. SHOPS
SEMI-OPEN SPACES

OPEN SPACES
 CENTRAL PARK
(OPEN SPACE)

INTRODUCTION
• Central Park(Central Recreation area) is situated above Rajiv Chowk Metro Station.
• The whole Connaught place market is layered around this Central Park.
• This beautiful park provides the visitors whether single, couple or in family to sit, relax and enjoy the surroundings.
• Thrown open to the public in 2006 after a gap of four years – when the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) dug it up to build a metro station – it
usually attracts big crowds, especially youngsters.
• Earlier Central Park was not in good condition with inadequate lighting and generally unsafe at night.
• After its re-development in 2005-06 by DMRC, Central Park in Connaught Place has become one of the main attractions of the city with citizens and
tourists can be seen in large numbers.
• Very well-known in Delhi, Central Park has been a centre for cultural events since a very long time. Inside the Central Park, we can see soft lights all
around, water flowing and in fountains and people with families roaming around.
• A 350 chair amphitheatre, lighting style all over (CFL's) that make sure that every area of the park has mild, 4 water systems and plenty of water
fountains, a water stream, lavish natural lawn all over, plenty of different plants from all over; overall a awesome location to relax after some stressful
purchasing in Connaught Position.
• The atmosphere in and around Central Park is very pleasing.
• Outside the Central Park there is inner lane surrounded with branded stores and large number of shoppers while inside the Central Park there is peaceful
atmosphere with lush green stand and people relaxing there.
TYPE OF SPACES DEVELOPED SPACE

Enough wide pathways are provided for people to
walk which is sufficient for the heavy footfall at
peak time
Trees are provided at the periphery of the site that
In evening hours people prefer sitting in the center
encourages people to sit and relax under them in
of the whole complex to enjoy the skyline .
excessive sunlight

Amphitheatre is occupied by the people in the evening hours to enjoy the surrounding activities
UNDEVELOPED SPACE

Previous image fountains Present situation of fountains Previous image of water channel Present situation of water Channel
FORMAL ACTIVITY WITHIN CENTRAL PARK

MORNING TIME EVENING TIME

Central amphitheatre is not utilized People sitting on the sloped green

Cleaning of waste in morning time Central amphitheater completely
in the morning time due to harsh patch just opposite to the
occupied by the people
sunlight amphitheater.

College students practicing singing Visitors resting under Trees shed to People use to click pics of their own Very less activity seen near periphery
avoid harsh sun. and surrounding due to less light

Cleaning of organic waste during twice Very less activity seen near periphery People wants to sit near water body
People doing morning walk
in a week due to less light during night time
EVENTS

The bsf band performing during the great Stage performance, youth festival Picture perfect Delhi exhibition
Indian police band show

Daksh band performing at central park Independence day celebration India’s ‘First Pan-Indian Photography Festival

Solid Solar lights solar lamps at Central Park to Exhibition of the united buddy bears Children at "Green Mela"as a part of Greenathon
mark Earth Hour
FORMAL ACTIVITY WITHIN CENTRAL PARK

Informal vendors come in the morning at 6am People come here to promote their commercial
and stay there till mid night. brands as there is a much larger crowd.

PDA- Connaught place’s central park is increasingly becoming a hangout spot for young couples where they get cosy, without any inhibitions.

As vendors are not allowed in the premises

of central park so they come inside by
jumping the railing illegally.

Activities of the vendor varies during different times of the day.

 PROS

The park is hygienically maintained with proper NDMC worker collects Organic waste in weekly Collection of waste of the whole day in the morning
gardening. intervals due to which surrounding remains clean. time to maintain cleanliness.

Signages are present to restrict the non- permitted Central amphitheater is a view point to beautiful
activities. skyline of Connaught place.

Proper drainage is provided along the pathways. Dustbins are kept at regular intervals due to which the Signages are present at regular intervals to direct
whole place remains clean throughout the day. the path
 PROS

The whole park is accessible to physically handicapped people by the use of ramps wherever there are changes within levels.

The place has India's largest flag which is a center of attraction for the passer-by visitors along inner circle.
 CONS

The enlightment of lights during the daytime when Improper lighting at the periphery of the site raises At some places the lights are not functional which
it is not required resulting in wastage of electricity the issue of security. leads to dark

Due to couples activities in the park it restricts the The water body provided in the premises is not The entries leading to metro station are not
family crowd to some extent. functional and under-maintained. functional.

The central amphitheater is not provided with shade which restricts its use in the morning and afternoon hours.
 ACTIVITIES

FORMAL ACTIVITIES

• RETAIL SHOPS
all showrooms, in the inner circle
• RAHAGIRI
every Sunday morning

RETAIL SHOPS

RAHAGIRI
 RAAHGIRI
(FORMAL ACTIVITY)

WHAT IS RAAHGIRI DAY?

Raahgiri Day is a street event which provides citizens
with the opportunity to reclaim their streets, connect
with their community, celebrate their city and
therefore reclaim their lives.

ABOUT RAAHGIRI
• Raahgiri Day is India’s first sustained car-free citizen initiative that began in Gurgaon on Nov 17, 2013.

• It was not long thereafter that this weekly event – that closes streets to cars in the name of sustainable and active transport – arrived in the world’s second largest
city – New Delhi.

• The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) together with the New Delhi Police Department took the lead in hosting car-free Sundays in the inner circle of New
Delhi’s Connaught Place each week, beginning 13th July 2014.

• On 12th July, 2015, this movement completed one year in Connaught Place. Moving from a turnout of 5000 people, on first Raahgiri in Connaught Place, to 20,000
people today, and expanding to Dwarka, Rohini & East Delhi areas in Delhi, the movement has shown a tremendous growth.

• This has also started New Delhi on an important path towards combating air pollution and improving public health, and moved all of India one step closer towards
being an exemplar of sustainable urban development for other emerging economies.

• The people waiting in queues to rent a cycle for free to ride, stages had been setup around which dance and other fitness activities were in full swing, open air
gyms and areas for playing football were marked on the street and people could be seen engrossed in loads of other activities.
5 KEY VALUES OF RAAHGIRI DAY
Every Sunday for 4-5 hours in the morning, the organizers
ensure that the 5 key values of the movement are intact and
the Raahgiri zone is left in a state such that –

1. EVERYONE IS INVITED
Everyone—and we mean everyone— from the young
to the old and wise, from well-off gated communities
to villages of Delhi, from abled to differently abled,
From all shapes and sizes and from all levels of physical
fitness. Raahgiri Day aims to promote a healthy
lifestyle and encourage the masses to get out and
walk, bike, skate or dance for a few hours. AROUND THE INNER CIRCLE TO EXPLORE THE HUB OF ACTIVITIES THE PLACE HAD BEEN
TRANSFORMED.
2. CREATE A SENSE OF WONDER
Activities along the route invite people to try new
things, from Walking, Running, Cycling and Skating to
Nukkad natak, Singing, Yoga . It’s a chance to engage in
new experiences or return to those we haven’t made
time for since our early youth.

3. HUMAN-POWERED AMUSEMENT
All activities are human-powered. In a world filled with
video-games, augmented reality and unlimited digital
screens, it’s important to return to the simple life every
now and then. Raahgiri Day celebrates old times
Entertainment, such as roller skating, skateboarding,
dancing and even finger-painting. FROM 3 YEAR OLDS TO 80 YEAR OLDS, EVERYONE SEEMED TO BEING PART OF THIS
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EVENT IN THE CITY.
4. PARTICIPATE IN BETTER HEALTH
This event is certainly not all about biking. Attendees
are encouraged to participate in healthy activities of all
kinds, from highly intense Zumba to pure street games
or Yoga.

5. BUILD MOMENTUM FOR A HEALTHY CHANGE

Help make our cities happier, healthier and more
sustainable by committing to the Raahgiri Day
movement. People are encouraged to pledge to walk,
bike, or roller-blade at every opportunity they get. BEFORE STARTING THE EVENTS ( RAHAGIRI ) DELHI POLICE CLOSED ALL ENTRIES AND
EXIT OF INNER CIRCLE.
 TYPE OF ACTIVITIES IN RAAHGIRI

PEOPLE WAITING FOR THEIR TURN FOR HIRING STAY FIT- THAT'S THE MANTRA BY WE DANCE, YOU DANCE, STAY FIT BY
CYCLES DURING RAAHGIRI DAY REEBOK ON RAAHGIRI DAY TIMES OF INDIA ON RAAHGIRI DAY

GYM AREA DURING RAAHGIRI DAY BADMINTON ON RAAHGIRI DAY YOGA ON RAAHGIRI

CYCLISTS DURING RAAHGIRI DAY A STAGE DANCE-AEROBATICS PRACTICE. RAAHGIRI DAY VENDORS ARE NOT ALLOWED
DURING RAAHGIRI
 INNER CIRCLE WEEKDAYS & SATURDAY SUNDAY (RAAHGIRI)

PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF EACH BLOCK

INFORMAL MARKET IN FRONT OF PALIKA

BAZAR

INNER CIRCLE ROAD

RAOD BETWEEN TWO BLOCKS

 ACTIVITIES
1
INFORMAL ACTIVITIES

• MARKET IN FRONT OF PALIKA ENTRANCE GATES

• OPEN SPACES ADJACENT TO PARKING

permanent vendors, hawkers

• VENDORS AND HAWKERS AT THE EXITS OF TWO BLOCK

• MARKET IN BETWEEN THE TERRACE OF PALIKA

• SEMI-COVERED SPACES (COLONNADE WALKWAY)
permanent vendors, hawkers, nomadic
2
5

3 4
 FOOTFALL

FOOTFALL ACCORDING TO AGE GROUP VISITORS REVIEWS AT CENTRAL PARK

• The foot fall of people comes here is 2-to-81 of age
group.
• Mainly age group of 18-to-28 come for shopping and
hanging out with their friend circle.
• Age group of 29-to-35 come with their families or
office group.
• Age group of 36-to-55 come either for lunch in
afternoon or after 5:00 p.m. ( which closing time of
offices )
1. GROUP OF FRIENDS: It is nice and happening place for enjoying nature, crowd and
an evening tea. CP needs a lot of walking, after which one can sit and relax in this
park. The big Indian flag doubles the attraction of this park.
2. SHOPKEEPER (PALIKA BAZAAR):
Q. what is their purpose of visiting this place?
A. I come to walk here in the evening for some refreshment.
Q. How often he visit here?
A. Whenever I get some free time I come here for a small walk.

3. FOREIGN VISITOR : nice place to sit and relax after shopping.

4. TEENAGER: A beautiful and calm place in the heart of the national capital. Perfect
place to spend a couple of hours with friends on a cool evening One can enjoy the
beauty of full Connaught place.

VISITORS REVIEWS AT INNER CIRCLE

NAME AGE BELONGING PLACE REVIEWS

Apoorva 28 Hyderabad Every time I am in Delhi, I am drawn again and again back to
Connaught Place.
Hitesh and Gunjan (couple) 32 , 34 Chandigarh Good Food, Nice Crowd

Simran 26 Gurgaon Delhi heart( My favourite place in Delhi)

Group of college friends 19-21 Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida Fab place to hang around

Stieve 35 Texas, USA Just a shopping area, western style

Aharon and Micha (couple) 31 , 30 Israel, middle east Good Crowd! Flee Market, Keep walking you won't feel bored as
this place is full of eatery and many more!
Shakuntla and Sapna 51 , 53 Delhi We use to walk along to window shop after office hours, it works as
our exercise
PURPOSE OF THE SPACES

INTENDED USE ACTUAL USE

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SPACE IS NOT BEING PROPERLY
THE VISITORS TO SIT AND TAKE UTILISED BY THE VISITORS BECAUSE
REST. OF HIGH SUN RAYS FALLING IN THAT
AREA.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SPACE IS MOSTLY COVERED BY

THE VISITORS MOVEMENT. THE HALKERS THUS NARROWING
THE WAY AND LEAVING LESS SPACE
FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE
VISITORS.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR THE LEFT SPACE BETWEEN THE
THE VISITORS TO SIT AND TAKE BENCHES IS USED FOR PARKING BY
REST. THE PEOPLE THUS BLOCKING THE
WAY.
PURPOSE OF THE SPACES

INTENDED USE ACTUAL USE

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SPACE IS BEING USED FOR
PROVIDING GREENERY IN THE THROWING GARBAGE AND ALL THE
VICINITY. WASTE.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SPACE FOR VEHICULAR

THE AUTHORIZED PARKING AND MOVEMENT IS ALSO BLOCKED BY
THE VEHICULAR MOVEMENT. THE VISITORS AND THE STAFF SUCH
THAT THERE IS NO SPACE FOR
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED LOT OF HUSTLE BUSTLE IS CREATED

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT AND BETWEEN THE PEDESTRIANS AND
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE MOVING.
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
PURPOSE OF THE SPACES
INTENDED USE
THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR
MOVEMENT OF THE PEDESTRIANS.
THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED FOR
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT.
ACTUAL USE
THIS SPACE FOR MOVEMENT IS ALL
COVERED BY THE HALKERS SUCH
THAT NO OR VERY LESS SPACE FOR
MOVEMENT IS LEFT.
ALL THE SPACES AROUND THE
METRO STATIONS AND THE MARKET
AREA IS TAKEN BY THE 3 WHEELERS
THUS MAKING THE SPACE
CONJUSTED.
 ANALYSIS
PROS

GREAT LIGHTING AT NIGHT

Lighting plays a major roll over here. At night Connaught place is still colorful and shining. As this site is present in the center of Delhi anyone can come
any time and no one feel any type of fear.
 ANALYSIS
PROS

BETTER THAN MALL HOPPING ENTERTAINMENT LEISURE

SOCIAL-CULTURAL-PLATFORM METRO RETAIL

UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE STILL MAINTAINED

CENTRAL PARK GENERATES LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND THUS DRAWS LARGE NUMBER OF VISITORS.
MORE VISITORS => MORE CONSUMERS => MORE REVENUE
 ANALYSIS
CONS

INADEQUATE PARKING FACILITIES TRAFFIC CONGSTION DRUG ADDICT

NO PEDESTRAIN LINK BETWEEN CENTRAL NO COMFORTABLE CONNECTION

LACK OF PUBLIC CONCERNS AND
PARK AND RETAIL SHOPS BETWEEN TWO BLOCKS
RESPONSIBILITY

PARKING TILL EDGE OF THE WLKWAYS LACK OF STREET FURNITURE FOR PUBLIC THE CONTRAST IN UTILIZATION OF CORNER SPACES
 CONCLUSIONS

AT CP INNER CIRCLE:

1. Red lights should be located at each zebra crossing for allowing the pedestrian friendly crossing.
2. Outside metro station entry/exit gates, there is an informal parking of auto rickshaws which leads to traffic congestion, so to
avoid formal auto/taxi stand should be allocated near it.
3. Parking should be relocated into the new underground parking garages. One row of on-street parking could be allowed but
charged high, and the revenue used for street improvements and maintenance.
4. Street and pavement space reclaimed from cars should be replaced by well designed Hawker Zones. Hawkers will make the
area lively even after dark when offices and retailers in the area have shut down and only cultural centers are active. It will
make the area vibrant, safe and active round the clock.

AT CENTRAL PARK:

1. The direct entries from central park to Rajiv chowk metro station should be accessible to avoid the congestion at peak hours
outside road where there are entry/exit points.
2. All areas should be well lit.
3. Some shade should be provided in the center to invite people in the central amphitheater in morning and afternoon hours.
4. Informal eatery kiosks should be setup inside the premises to invite crowd towards central park and to cater the existing crowd.