Dadabhai Naoroji Road - Streetscape Project

Streetscape Project

Under the Heritage Regulations of Greater Bombay Act 1995, D.N.Road, considered to be of immense value as a historic urban streetscape, has been designated as a Grade I1 heritage streetscape. But the hectic commercial activities and the large sized signboards in the heritage road (had become a metaphor for urban chaos) caused serious concern to the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and public spirited people of the area. The striking colonial facades became completely obscured by free for all signages such as billboards, signboards and other forms of advertisement, which left much to be desired. The ambiance of the historic streetscape was also marred by the asynchronous street furniture, road dividers, benches and other public amenities. This necessitated launching of a conservation project titled “Dadabhai Naoroji Road Heritage Streetscape Project”, by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority with the objective of protecting the 19th century streetscape for

restoring the architectural integrity of the street with the regulation of the signboards and the inclusion of street furniture that complemented the neo–classical architecture

Conservation methods

To facilitate conservation activities on the Mumbai’s heritage sites, a trust called the MMR Heritage Conservation Society was instituted to provide grants and funding for documentation and research studies. In the first phase of the project, Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority prepared the first urban conservation guidelines in India. This was done by the appointed architect Abha Narain Lambah assisted by a team of nine architects and undergraduate students who documented this phenomenal streetscape, which resulted, at the end of nine months of studies in 1998, in a document titled “Design Handbook for a Heritage Streetscape: Guidelines for Signage and Street furniture for Dadabhai Naoroji Road”. In the absence of any past records of architectural elevations or drawings of the facades in the street, the document was prepared with the following information.

• Door to door documentation was done of every building on D.N. Road – mapping elevations, surveying land records, generating data on occupants, owners, type of business and commercial establishments, existing signboards, shop fronts, hawkers and all such information considered relevant to the restoration work.
• Provides urban guidelines for signage and shop fronts through the street.
• Each building’s elevation with the exact location and number of signs existing at the time was noted.
• Provides plans for relocation of the signages with modified designs without altering the exhibited shop sign (text) in the ground floor of each shop and its dimensions (area) ensuring free view of the architectural details such as cornices, keystones and pilasters, and that the architectural quality of the building was not compromised.
• To enhance the quality of the streetscape, elaborate schemes for the installation of heritage sensitive street furniture such as cast iron benches, litter bins, information signs, bus stops and railings were drawn.

Public participatory approach to conservation

In May 2001, at the initiative of the architect of the project, the local shopkeepers, occupants and commercial establishments in the street and the local municipal officer implemented, voluntarily, the regulation of the shop fronts and signage; the expenses for relocation and redesign of the shop signs were borne by each individual establishment. A local news paper facilitated design, fabrication and installation of the cast iron street furniture along the buildings, in a 100 m (328.1 ft) stretch. Transparent community involvement was a key element in the success of this endeavour.

Heritage Mile Association

A citizen's association (of the various occupants, owners, corporate establishments and shopkeepers on Dadabhai Naoroji Road) called “The Heritage Mile Association” was the outcome of the success of the initial pilot project. Set up as a non–profit group, the association's objectives are to restore the heritage character of Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road through public participation and private sponsorship. The achievements of the association, since its inception, are:

• Funds have been raised through local stakeholders and shopkeepers to implement street furniture through another 500 m (1,640.4 ft) stretch of the road
• More people and establishments continue to commit their financial and volunteer support to the initiative.
• Members meet every Monday to jointly discuss initiatives for the improvements
• 24x7 security, maintenance and cleaning of the area have been ensured
• An all round sense of ownership among the local shopkeepers and other stakeholders prevails

A few individual owners of buildings initiated restoration works which included removal of the air–conditioning units that were incongruent with the colonial façade.

Achievement award

UNESCO evaluated the significant participatory approach of the streetscape project that mobilized local shop owners and residents, leading to the creation of participatory citizen’s association to sustain and expand conservation work in Mumbai, which has set an important precedent. The Municipal Corporation has adopted urban design guidelines for the entire historic precinct. UNESCO which has awarded the prestigious “Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit in the year 2004” to the project has, in its citation by the Judges, has observed:

The project’s success has generated widespread appreciation of the aesthetic, social and commercial values which have resulted from the preservation of the street’s historic character. Through its influence on urban policy and contribution to the commercial vitality of the neighborhood, this project sets the standard for future urban streetscape revitalization throughout India. The first of its kind in India, this ambitious streetscape project has revived the historic ambience of Dadabhai Naoroji Road of Mumbai through the restoration of shop fronts, signage and street furniture to reflect the area’s Victorian Era commercial heritage.