MULTI MODAL TRANSPORT HUB

Introduction

As Indian cities are growing at a rapid pace, urban infrastructure development has to keep pace to provide good, and efficient transportation for people to and from the place of work. The study and design of a multimodal transport/commercial hub is an important concern in the planning, development and growth of the city as it involves transporting people during peak and non-peak hours efficiently across the city. While various ideas for the same have been evolving over a period of time, it is necessary to study the urban design principles and infrastructure development in the world, analyze the various strategies and evolve design to suit the local context and the site.

Urban infrastructure development includes not only the planning of the train & bus stations, but also networks between nodes, access to infrastructure facilities, community facilities, the common open spaces, work spaces and in short the entire ecosystem of ‘commercial environment’.

Infrastructure like MRTS / Metro / bus station is always in high demand and the planning and design of the same and layouts have had huge impacts on the rush hour traffic and facilities provided for the public. Thus, it is critical to thoroughly understand the contexts and various possible impacts before providing holistic solutions to the infrastructure needs of a city.

Tambaram

Tambaram is residential locality in Southern part of the metropolitan city of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tambaram is neighbourhood in South Chennai situated 27 km (17 mi) south of the Broadway in Tamil Nadu, India. It is on the Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to Kanyakumari divide the town into East Tambaram and West Tambaram. Tambaram is also home to the Tambaram Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force.

Tambaram terminal

Tambaram Railway Station is one of the railway terminal of the Chennai Beach–Tambaram section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It is situated at a distance of 6 km from the centre of Tambaram, a suburb of Chennai located 27 km south of the city centre. It is one of the fastest growing railway hubs outside Chennai Central in the southern direction. Everyday, on an

average, around 150,000 commuters use the station. About 280 suburban electric trains operate from Tambaram, including those between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram. Further, more than 25 expresses, including those bound for Howrah and other places in the north pass through the town. It is also third busiest station in the city (after Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore). The daily ticket sales at Tambaram fetch ₹ 1 million, half of which comes from suburban travelers. It is the second most revenue-generating station in Chennai after Moore Market Complex. A total of 52 trains pass through the station.

The southern gateway to Chennai, Tambaram has been the nerve centre for road and rail traffic in the State capital's south for several decades now. With facilities at the Central and Egmore railway stations reaching near saturation levels, Southern Railway decided to ease congestion there by expanding Tambaram through a massive development project. The primary objective of the project is to operate additional long distance express trains to the southern districts from Tambaram, on the Tambaram – Villupuram –Thanjavur sector and the Tiruchi – Madurai sector.

Projected population

With an expected population of 2.55 lakh in 2035 this area needs urgent attention and careful revitalization is required to

- Regulate the zoning,

- Regulate the traffic and other activities

- Reduce the congestion

- Restrict unplanned growth

- Provide a safe and healthy transition zone

- Provide good infrastructure planning

- Promote the efficient use of available open spaces

Objective

To make a worldclass railway terminal at Tambram which is more functional, efficient and vibrant as a multi-modal transport hub.

Extent of site study

The various land uses present across the corridor of GST Road provides more scope in terms of urban improvement and revitalization. This strip is one of the major transition zone with bus stop and Railway station. The presence of commercial areas along the road also adds to the traffic generation to the strip which needs immediate reordering. The area is also crowded with hawkers and pavement dwellers which makes the stretch more vulnerable to encroachment and leads to overcrowding of roads. The pedestrians have a tough time using the pedestrian paths as it is occupied by the street vendors which gives more scope in regularization of Tambaram.

Conclusion

The Resultant design should focus on redevelopment of the Tambaram station as a world class terminal with respect to traffic and transportation (Transit oriented development) which can involve certain revamping and revitalization along the Tambaram terminal stretch.

Site

Evolution

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Second-Third-Fourth floor plan

Elevation and perspective section

MMD