ABSTRACT

Waterfront development has always been a common topic of interest in urban studies. Through the
special nature of coastal areas, urban development of these place has its own characteristics that
influenced by the typology, view, land value and environmental factors.

In addition, social factors that include community characteristics, local culture and traditions affect
and receive effects from this development. Development of waterfronts plans should adhere to the
notion that the waterfront is an inherently public asset.

Planning a waterfront development, required the city officials or a developer to start by envisioning
a network of well connected, multi-use public spaces that fit with the community’s shared goals. By
orienting waterfront revitalization around public spaces, new urban design should enhance the
quality of existing destinations and that result in a whole city identity that is greater than the sum of
its parts.

This research study discusses both urban and social impact of waterfront development, taking Kochi
Marine drive as a case study.

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT – INTRODUCTION

The diverse nature and characteristics of waterfronts include natural waterfronts and constructed
waterfronts. Human-altered waterfronts can be urban or semi-urban in character and location.
Natural waterfronts too could be altered to preserve or enhance their special features for various
purposes like eco-tourism, habitat conservation, nature research, etc. Many definitions abound,
which address the many types of features of waterfronts, and their associated developments.
Although the meaning of the term ‘waterfront’ seems self-evident as land adjacent to a water body,
many definitions abound. The waterfront as the area of a town or city next to an area of water, such
as a harbour or dockyard. The definition of ‘Waterfront Development’ therefore depends on the
characteristics of the waterfront site, the planning framework and development approach. Various
planning authorities, local communities, investors, and other stakeholders including residents may
be involved in any waterfront development process. Depending on the site, waterfront
developments could be new waterfront projects to acquire new facilities, investments and operators
to the area/region. They could also be development projects to preserve natural habitats along with
developing supportive public amenities. Waterfront developments could also be regeneration or
rejuvenation or revitalization projects, which aim to improve existing areas, addressing deterioration
and blight. Post-industrial facilities/buildings or defunct dockyards could qualify for development
projects to remove blight, increase the economic vitality of the area, bring new investments and new
population or productive agents to the waterfront neighbourhoods. The types and definitions of
waterfront developments depend also on the larger policies being addressed and the level of
planning authority involved for a specific development. Urban waterfront development may include
state or city/town planning authorities/agencies, and local waterfronts like lagoons, wetlands and
marshes may include the active involvement of local planning offices or local government offices like
panchayat or municipal offices. Many of these may include community participation, especially at
the local level.
Waterfronts are dynamic places by nature. As an edge environment, the overlap of different
communities of users and dramatically different conditions make for enormous amounts of
complexity and energy. In the non-human realm, waterfronts are the interface of the aquatic and
the terrestrial, the site of complex intertidal communities, the point of release for wave action, and
the vehicle for many dispersal patterns. As related to human history and use, waterfronts have a
long history of changing types and levels of uses, and are now coming back into potentially thriving
and layered public use. Once the site of first settlements and exploration, they have long served as
transportation corridors and ports, hubs of trade, travel centres, recreation venues, and much, much
more. Waterfronts have been extensively used by humans for their utility in travel, trade, recreation,
and general enjoyment, and have also suffered cycles of abuse and neglect from these very use
patterns.

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT – CLASSIFICATION AND PRINCIPLES

There are many classifications for waterfront development, however, could be collectively presented
in three main types of classifications. The first type is classifying waterfront development according
to the location and function of activities. This is summarized in six main categories as ecological
protection zones, new urban development outside cities, rebuilding and/or extending old ports and
industrial zones, new development connected to residential areas, new development connected to
the downtown area, and finally new development for leisure and travel. The second type of
classification reflecting the only function of waterfront development regardless of its location which
some scholars and practitioners perceive as a disadvantage. In this type, waterfront development is
categorized into commercial, cultural, educational, environmental, historic, entertainment,
residential, services, and work zones. The last type of classification reflects the added-value by
waterfront development. It classifies waterfront development into three main categories: added-
value labour (i.e. traditional aquaculture and fishing, fishery, and offshore fishing), added-value
production (i.e. goods distribution, product processing, trading, and logistics), and finally added-
value services (i.e. leisure and recreation, tourism, culture preservation, and Marine research).
Decision-makers must decide what type and location of activities, as well as the added value type,
will be included in concerned waterfront development. Such a decision helps to guide the physical
planning process during both the formulation and implementation of plans. Moreover, it is of great
importance to deeply understand the factors of success of any waterfront development projects.

First, to satisfy the government, waterfront development shall: contribute to economic growth, help
to increase employment, and help to improve the city image. Second, regarding the planning
agencies, waterfront development shall respect, confirm and present the distinctive characteristics
the city, echo the future development vision for the city, and if necessary, promote sustainability,
globalization, cultural diversity, and social interaction concepts. Third, concerning developers,
waterfront development shall provide enough development profits as well as social recognition.
Finally, waterfront development shall provide the public with improved living standards, quality of
life, and an elevated sense of belonging and pride.
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT – GUIDELINES AND PROCESS

As a part of urban development, waterfront development follows the very same underpinning
methodologies. It also deals with the same public policy, planning and implementation institutions
and agencies of each country. Hence, waterfront development requires a very committed deliberate
political will that helps ensure its success or failure. On the one hand, this leads to the formulation of
distinctive urban vision and urban planning public policies on the national and local level that
reflects the specific culture, social, economic, environmental, and urban context of each country and
city. On the other hand, equally important, waterfront development shall comprehensively explore,
document and analyse in details current problems and its origins, current potential and constraints
locally and nationally.

Although there are three distinctive methodologies to follow when formulating and implementing
development policies and plans (i.e. Blueprint methodology, scientific rational methodology, and
communicative rational methodology), the one that stands its professional grounds since the
emergence of the urban planning discourse in 1947 is the scientific rational methodology. It follows
a specific set of successive phases that summarizes the process of development. It starts with the
data collection phase that includes the exploration and documentation of current physical,
economic, social environmental, culture, and policy contexts on both the local and national levels
and relationship with international development trends. The second phase, data analysis, helps in
documenting current development potentials, problems, and constraints via one or combined
analysis techniques (i.e. PCP, SWOT, and TIT). The third phase, finding solutions, includes the
formulation of concerned development vision and mission that aligns with the city and country main
development visions. It also sets to formulate various development strategies and consequent
structure planning alternatives. Moreover, it includes alternatives evaluation and the choice of
proper development strategy and structure plan and consequent master plan and detailed plans
that achieve the most of the present goals and aims of development vision and mission. The final
phase, implementation, set to explore and decide the effective and efficient implementations
techniques, institutions and agencies to ensure the success of the implementation process. It also
sets the mechanisms through which decision-makers and involved professionals follow-up, update
and amend plans where needed.

KOCHI – MARINE DRIVE

INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS A MARINE DRIVE?
A picturesque promenade run along the coastline and thus called as Marine Drive.
Marine Drive is a
 waterfront development
 promenade
 Public space
DIFFERENT MARINE DRIVES IN INDIA
India consists of many other marine drives across the entire country.
1. Marine Drive, Mumbai - Marine Drive is a 3.6-kilometre-long Promenade along the Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose Road in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai, India. It is a 'C'-shaped
 six-lane concrete road along the coast of a natural bay. Marine Drive is situated on reclaimed
land facing west-south-west.
2. Marine Drive, Raipur - It is situated right in the heart of the city, along with the periphery of
the immensely beautiful Telibandha Lake providing the best possible view from the road.
3. Marine Drive, Lucknow - It is a picturesque strip of road adjacent to the River Gomti in Gomti
Nagar. The place is prominent with high rise building and architecture.
4. Marine Drive, Pondicherry- It runs parallel along the 1.5 km long promenade beach
providing a great view from the road.
5. Marine Drive, Bhopal – The beautiful lake view road of Bhopal is called as marine drive
which runs along the Upper Lake. It is 2-3 km long lake side road which connects new market
and Lalaghati.

MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI

A buzzing waterfront development facing Vembanad Lake along with a promenade situated in the
heart of the city. The walkway starts from Rajendra Maidan and extends up to Tata canal. Consisting
of several shopping malls, food joints and boat jetties, Marine drive is an important tourist
destination of Kochi.
ESSENCE OF MARINE DRIVE
Factors that provide a significant feature to the Marine Drive
 Vembanad Lake
 Canals – Mullassery canal, Market canal, Railway canal and Tata canal
 Bridges – Cheenavala bridge, Rainbow bridge and Kettuvellam Bridge
 Boat jetty
 High Court
 Penta Menaka
 Broadway market
 Mangalavanam Bird sanctuary
 Parks – Indira Priyadarsini Children’s park , Subhash Bose Park.