Emergence of sub-optimal land utilization patterns in Indian cities

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the urban morphology of Ahmedabad, a large and rapidly growing Indian city, to determine land utilization efficiency. It provides a nuanced understanding of land consumption patterns in public and private domains, and how sub-optimal land development patterns emerge. Urban form parameters analysed include public streets, building footprints, and public and private open spaces. The results show that land utilization is sub-optimal, with less land available under public domain and more land consumed as private open spaces (especially as margins and setbacks) leading to excessive fragmentation. Indian cities should rationalize their development regulations to improve land utilization outcomes.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Isalyne Gennaro for providing extensive and able research assistance in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The ground floor is the same as first floor in the American system. Typically, it is the floor that is directly accessible from the street level.

2. Section 4.25.5 of the 2016 Model Building Byelaws states ‘Up to 25% of the total setback area can be sunk for light, ventilation and access to basement, provided fire tender movement is not hindered’ (TCPO 2016).

3. Including exemptions for building a parking garage, servant quarter, toilet and bathroom, surface water tank, security cabin, vehicular ramp to basement, electrical infrastructures such as substation and transformer, fire escape staircase, pedestrian ramp, and parking.