Impact of metro rail on heritage predominant areas- a case of Hyderabad
Student name: Ms Y. Monica Priya
Guide: Dr Shaleen Singhal
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: Centre for Economic and Social Studies, CESS Hyderabad
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Prof C. Ramachandraiah
Abstract: Cities are Engines of Economic growth and infrastructure is and will continue to be the key component to fuel the growth of any city. Transport is a key infrastructure and is assumed to be critical to improve the efficiency of a city by enhancing mobility and connectivity. Increasing population and congestion in the core area has been the main reason for rapid development in the infrastructure sector. While deficiencies in the transport system and the need for a Mass Transit System, MTS has been increasingly felt, Indian cities have invariably opted for a Metro Rail. There are a number of characteristics to determine the suitability of a MTS in the city. Indian countries unlike European counterparts do not have a well defined CBD’s where in a large number of working class has to be transferred in and out thus making metro not completely viable in our cities. Any transport model should be designed to the specific characteristics heritage, history, street and traffic pattern of the city.
This rapid urban development and heritage management have been unable to maintain balance thus leading to development at the cost of a number of high heritage valued areas. Research reveals that heritage properties are mainly threatened due to aggressive urban development and management deficiencies. (ICOMOS, 2011). While cultural heritage is seen as a soft advantage, which provides cities with unique identity, in their competition for global market, it is not recognised by most of the Asian Cities, which are entangled in the sphere of rapid infrastructure development.
There is an intimate link of urban heritage with formal and informal sector. When a transport project impacts a predominant heritage area, as in case of Hyderabad, it not just affects the aesthetics but also has an impact on the people intricately linked with it. There are number of livelihoods adversely affected if their interests are not been considered in such mega projects thus making planning inequitable and class biased.
This study focuses on the impact on livelihoods and the heritage areas due to the metro rail project. The study tries to understand the impact on these areas by a set of indicators relating to the social aspects and the cultural heritage of the area. It majorly reveals that the imbalances and the adverse impact are caused due to inefficient and non functioning regulatory authorities relating to heritage. Thus making it more important in project planning to strengthen the heritage committees and enable them with powers to make decisions and assist other important government bodies in making decisions relating to heritage areas.
Key words: Heritage, Livelihood, Mass Transit System, Heritage regulations, Employment
