Redevelopment of a fruit market in historic commercial district in a Megacity: case application of Mechua Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal

Abstract

The thesis focuses on the redevelopment of Mechua Bazar Wholesale Fruit Market, situated in the historic commercial district of Bara Bazar, Kolkata. Kolkata, ranked as India’s most unsustainable city, faces critical urban challenges like air pollution, poor sanitation, and ecological threats. The aim is to redevelop Mechua Bazar into a modern, organized trade market, enhancing its functionality and urban integration. Objectives include organizing the market layout, improving accessibility from Central Avenue Road and the North-South Metro station, introducing sustainable measures, and conserving heritage structures. The scope involves modernizing the market, decongesting surrounding streets, creating a digital stakeholder database, implementing IoT technologies, and preserving heritage buildings. This research aims to provide a comprehensive urban design solution for Mechua Bazar, serving as a model for revitalizing historic commercial districts facing similar urban challenges globally.