URBAN DESIGN ISSUES OF UNDERSTANDING ANATOMY OF A

DISTRICT THROUGH VISUAL SURVEY

NAME: SOUMYADEEP DUTTA

PG 1ST YEAR, 2018-19

SUB: INTRODUCTION TO URBAN DESIGN

ROLL. NO : 001810202005
 CONTENTS
 CHANGE – THE URBAN ISSUE

 LOCATION OF THE AREA ON MAP

 CONTEXTUAL SURROUNDINGS

 ABOUT THE AREA & IT’S

SIGNIFICANCE FOR PUBLIC
DOMAIN

 CHANGE : WHY? And HOW?

 (UN)CHANGED ISSUES

 CHANGE IS FOR GOOD!

 CONCLUSION

CHAMRAHAAT
THE LEATHER MARKET ON CIT ROAD
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 CHANGE
- To identify how the district is
changing internally and adjusting
its periphery to change (cross
border)
- To identify the direction of
growth/change
- Direction of movement of center
(of gravity)
- Explore whether the edge is
decaying
- Possibility of stabilizing the center /
whole district
- Possibility of invigorating decaying
edge of district

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 CHAMRAHAAT
LOCATION OF THE AREA ON MAP
Popularly known as “juto bazaar”, this wholesale leather
market in Kolkata at Padmapukur CIT Road is almost half a
century old. To reach the place, From Moulali take CIT road
and stop near the first roundabout crossing and you’ve
arrived. A few hundred traders flock here every morning,
their business extends till 8 pm in the evening.

Google Earth image of Paddapukur area with the red rectangle

showing the extent of Chamrahaat market. CIT Road serves as the main
arterial road to this area.

Over a century old, it once used to be known as chamra haat (leather bazaar).
After the shifting of the tanneries from east Calcutta to Bantala, the traders here
quickly switched from leather to finished products like shoes, chappals, bags, belts
and raw materials. Benshull Haat is not just the largest wholesale market for shoes
catering to retailers and individual buyers but also a shoe-maker’s delight for
accessories and materials like leather, soles, adhesives, rexine, rubber, nails and
cobbler tools. It is to footwear what Metiabruz is to dress materials.
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 CHAMRAHAAT Situated on the road with hawkers
selling in the open with tarpaulin
sheets. Few shops which are
permanent and a petrol pump
CONTEXTUAL nearby. Remains closed on Fridays
SURROUNDINGS

Ensure Support Services

Renaissance Island

Open stalls selling belts Chamrahaat shoe shop ZNT Footwear Bharat Petroleum petrol pump 5
 CHAMRAHAAT PRODUCTS

ABOUT THE AREA & IT’S

SIGNIFICANCE FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN

- Interestingly many of the shoes that are available

here can be found on e-commerce portals selling
under some odd brand name, which are mostly BAGS BELTS SHOES
supplied by the traders in this market.
- The USP here is that you can look and wear the
stuff before you buy instead of the haggle of
buying & returning of e-commerce.
- If you happen to dig further behind the
innumerable shoe stalls, you’ll find a series of
dingy houses where people are busy making a
variety of shoes that are sold right there in the
market as well as supplied to various shoe
companies.
- Benshull Haat also supplies to stores in the city
and districts. The haat mainly caters to the middle
and lower middle classes, who cannot afford a
Bata, Reebok or Nike. Here a pair of sandals can
be picked up for anything between Rs 40 and Rs
400, whereas a pair of shoes will cost between Rs
170 and Rs 1,200.
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 CHANGE :
WHY? AND HOW?

- Benshull Haat is has been constantly growing

and changing in accordance with time.

- However the growth is organic (haphazard)

in nature and has also created few problems.

- The edge has modified over years and has

decayed to a certain extent. There are
frequent clashes with traffic and pedestrian
flow.

- The reason for its sustainability has been its

ability to adapt and cater to the needs of the
current generation. They have products
following the recent trends in fashion.

- There is every possibility of stabilization of this

important district only if the parameters are
studied in detail and worthwhile solutions are
proposed. 7
 (UN)CHANGED ISSUES

 The amount of non-biodegradable (plastic) waste that is

generated is huge without proper disposal system.

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 Rows of tarpaulin sheets to protect from sun & rain but cuts
Streets empty when market closed Used for parking under shade down ventilation and very suffocating for people under them.
No provisions in-case of fire.

 Low on hygiene levels and the smell of rubber & leather

products adds the uncomfortable conditions.

 Auto rickshaw stand, bus stop and vendors all sits in one linear
line thereby creating a chaotic situation. Difficult to stand and
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wait for passengers while people also buy products.
Closed stalls on Friday for namaz Waste collected and dumped

5 6 7 8

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Market spreads on CIT Road Remains open till 8pm at night Waste generated at day end Overcrowded during peak time
 CHANGE IS FOR GOOD!

 Like a typical haat, transaction starts early in the morning at 5am and continues at noon till 6pm in the
evening. Before the pujas and Eid, business hours extend till 10pm in the night.

 “Initially, we were rather worried when the malls and big brand players invaded the market. We feared
we’d lose our business. But we were wrong. Our market is growing. Even regular mall buyers visit our
Leather & synthetic resin shoes market and their number is on the rise. However, the majority of our customers cannot afford to buy
from the malls and a good number of them are nervous to enter those swanky shops,” said Shamim
Ismail, the secretary of Leather Hawkers’ Union in Vidyasagar Market Complex Association.

 The number of traders in the haat varies from 1,000 to 1,200. Owners of small shoe-making units brush
shoulders with individual cobblers in this haat, hawking their wares. Shoes and chappals are sold at
almost throwaway prices, making it a happy hunting ground for traders from the suburbs and far-flung
districts.
Prices start from Rs 80/- onwards

Variety of ladies footwear available Cost varies according to quality Leather belts for both gender Ladies handbags for daily use
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 CONCLUSION
- Redefining the street edge to avoid spill
over activities happening on the road.
- A systematic plan to manage the waste.
Since there are no bins provided hence it is
dumped onto roadside.
- Strategizing the change for strengthening
its sustainability.
- Making small internal changes for the
betterment of the district since it caters to
such a large audience.
- Improved service support like sanitation
and drainage.
- Raising awareness amongst vendors &
shopkeepers to maintain their individual
spaces and keep them neat and tidy.
- Collaborative efforts from individuals and
civic bodies so that this area becomes an
even bigger hub of economy.
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THANK YOU 
JU PG (URBAN DESIGN) 1ST YEAR
SOUMYADEEP DUT TA
+91-8979874882

soumyadeepdutta@rediffmail.com

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