From Failure to Success- a case of Vrindavan Sub-City,

Lucknow
Sanjeev Kashyap
Chief Architect Planner, UPHDB (Actg.)

Prof. Subodh Shankar

Former Chief Architect Planner, UPHDB
 From Failure to Success: a case of Vrindavan Sub-City,
Lucknow

High rate of Urbanisation coupled with natural population growth necessitates creation of new
urban centres. In India, so far, thousands of such urban agglomerations have been created and
lot many are in the offing. Over the years it has been observed that quite good number of such
projects have gained tremendous success while certain projects are facing real tough times.
Through the case study of Vrindavan Sub-City, Lucknow (created by U.P. Housing &
Development Board), an attempt is being made to highlight various attributes that lead to the
success of such urban setups.
The presentation focuses on how through intricate planning, an urban development scheme
which remained off the ground for almost 2 decades has become a grand success.
Criteria for a Successful Urban Development Scheme: Site Selection

 Master Plan Compatibility

 Location: Accessibility, Growth Potential, Employability, Crime and Pollution free.
 Size / Acreage: Distance from Existing Urban Development
 Site profile – Contours, HFL, Soil Quality & Subsoil Characteristics
 Drainage outfall
 Infrastructure- Availability of Potable Water, Electricity, Gas
 Ease of Environment Clearance
 Lesser Obstructions- Abadies, Encroachments, HT Lines, Underground Piping, Canals, Railway lines, Air
Funnels, Firing Ranges etc.
 Longer Frontage: More Inlets
 Land Acquisition: Raw Land Cost, Speed- Number of Khatedars- SC / ST , Negotiations – lesser legal hurdles
 Criteria for Successful Urban Development: Planning
Inputs

 Promoter / Developer / Financer/ Consultants – High Reputation & Excellent Track Record
 Scheme Name: "What's in a name?”- Shakespeare

 The Layout Pattern: Well defined Road network and Green Spaces, Attractive Ambiance, Policy of Whole to Part, Area
allocations for all the necessary land uses,
 Environment: Native Oxygen Plants like Peepal, Bargad, Neem etc.
 Facilities: Recreation, Education & Health , Socio- Cultural, Police & Fire Protection
 Provision of Extra ordinary Amenities & Facilities: 24 Hour Water & Electric Supply, e- Charging Stations, E-
Surveillance, Helipad etc
 Conservation of Natural Resources: Hillocks, Orchards, Water Bodies, Heritage
 Scientific Approach to Planning: Contouring, Mapping of-Ground Water, Soil Bearing Capacity
 Strict Adherence to Developmental Regulations
 Planning Team Strength: Sufficient Number of Architects and Planners, CAP’ s rank to be at least equal to CE,
Memberships of Professional Bodies, Links with Academia, Organising Seminars and Webinars etc.
 Challenges at Vrindavan Sub City

 Location: Away from Main Town, buffered by cantonment and barren land, only 2 lane highway, Scanty Traffic, Public
Transport missing
 Growth Potential: Nearby Housing Colonies – Unpopular; Besides SGPGI no other development .

 Scheme Name: Telibagh

 Obstacles: Elevated Rail line, Sharda Canal and its tributaries, Irrigation Colony along Canal- Punctures not available Almost
20 % area of scheme 1 & 2 encroached. Frontage on Raebareily Road Totally Blocked; Air Funnel- Height Restrictions
 Land Quality: Swampy Land due to defective lining of Canal : Migratory Birds
 Scheme Size: Initially only Scheme- 1 (432 ac.)and Scheme-2 (843ac.)Notified: ( Sch.1: 432 ac. Sch.2: 843 ac. Sch3:
472ac. Sch4: 1060ac.)- untenable to make bridges or underpasses and to deal with enormous unauthorised constructions. Later
on Scheme- 3 (432ac.) and Scheme -4 (1060 ac.) added.
 Water Table: High close to Canal and its distributies
 Drainage: Scheme -1 drainage across Raebareli Highway; Scheme -2 to Gomti 5-6 Kms away across railway line .
 Social Infrastructure: None, Other than SGPGI
Vrindavan Sub City, Lucknow: Strategies to overcome the
Challenges

Area Enhancement: Addition of Sch. -3 and Sch.-4 and clubbing with Sch.1 and Sch. 2
Change of Sch. Title: From Telibagh to Vrindavan
Consultancy: HUDCO New Delhi
Scientific Approach to Planning: Prior to Layout Planning detailed Surveys Viz. Contouring, Soil Bearing Capacity
Mapping, Depth to water Level Mapping, Drainage Plans, Planning from Whole to Part, Building heights based on Air
Funnel Regulations and Soil Bearing Capacity, Incorporation of latest water conservation & waste recycling concepts,
Drainage and Solid Waste Disposal Zones, 24 Hour Water Supply,

Facilities: Area as large as 13% earmarked for Public Semi Public Use
Environment Protection: 16% dedicated Green, Plantation of Native and high Oxygen Plants like Peepal and Bargad,
Canal Seepage: Creation of Water Park- Kalindi Van Park. This also became the USP
Encroachment Removal: Through Negotiations
Scientific Approach To Planning
Weakness turned into Opportunity: Creation of Kalindi Van
Park