Understanding urban development

in Kozhikode city

Vasundhara Krishnan
 Research Problem

 Kozhikode – listed as one of the fastest growing urban district in Kerala in 2018.
 To better understand the urban developments that have come about in the city – revamping
the SM Street, beautification of South Beach, revitalization of Gujarati Street.
 Urban development projects as both including and excluding spaces to be accessed by the
middle-class and lower classes.
 How the urban development ideas, both by individual players and the government have
drawn from the aesthetics and practices of other West Asian countries?
 Objectives

 To understand how urban development has brought visible spatial changes to the main city
of Kozhikode over the last five years.
 To analyse how these changes have catered to the interests of the people living in and
around the city.
 No other project that has looked at the spatial changes in the city alone.
 Will give an idea about the changing tastes of the middle class.
 Research Questions

 How do the new renovation projects tie in with a fast growing urban district?
 What larger objectives do these projects satisfy? (Local businesses, tourism, entertainment,
leisure etc.)
 What have been the consequences in laying focus only on newer projects and rejecting the
older heritage sites?
 What are the involvements from the local governments in urban development projects?
Methodology and Timeline

 Interviewing town planners – ward counsellors, designer/architects involved in re-

designing city spaces.
 Gather data through newspapers, articles about the projects.
 Secondary sources on urban development

 Timeline:
 14th – 21st September: Carry out telephone calls interviews.
 21st to 28th September: Gathering sources from media coverage.