A comprehensive analysis of the City development plan of Varanasi for the year 2041. with collected census data from 2011

1. URBAN DESIGN ASSIGNMENT
VARANASI DEVELOPMENT PLAN ANALYSIS
Avanita Sharma 1652

2. City Level Tier 2 city
Area 163.8 km²
Metropolis Population 11.98 lakhs
Urban Agglomeration
Pop.
15.73 lakhs
Density 2,395 people per sq.Km
Avg. temperature 26.1 °C
Elevation 80.71 metres (264.8 ft)
above sea level
Precipitation 1100 mm per year
Varanasi also known as Benares is a city on the banks of the
river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India, 320 kilometres (200 mi)
south-east of the state capital, Lucknow, and 121 kilometres (75
mi) east of Allahabad. A major religious hub in India, it is the
holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism.
Introduction : City Data :

3. Historic Profile
HISTORICAL GROWTH

4. 1991-2011
II Master Plan
1991-2011
1961-1991
I Master Plan
1961-1991
1st Master plan
established for Varanasi
City
Made by the Varanasi
Development Authority
2nd Master plan
established for Varanasi
City
Made by the Varanasi
Development Authority
2006
City Development
Plan 2006
projected for 2021
1st City Development Plan
Made Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM)
2011-2031
III Master Plan
2011-2031
3rd Master plan
established for Varanasi
City
Made by the Varanasi
Development Authority
2015
City Development
Plan 2015 projected
for 2041
2nd gen City Development
Plan
Made by Ministry of Urban
Development,
Government of India and
The World Bank

5. Administrative Boundary :
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENTS:
Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) - 82.1 90 SQM
Varanasi Urban Agglomeration (VUA) - 112.26 SQM
Varanasi Master Plan - Operative - 246.46 SQM
Total Varanasi
Development Region (VDR) - 793 SQM
The draft Master Plan 2031
formulated by the Varanasi
Development Authority (VDA)
defines the Varanasi
Development Region (VDR) with
an area 793 Sq. Km.
Area of Delineation Area
Varanasi Municipal Corporation(VMC) 82.1
Varanasi Urban Agglomeration (VUA) 112.6
ZONES OF VARANASI AS PER MASTER PLAN 2031
VUA
VMC
ZONES BASED ON SPATIAL
DISTRIBUTION
ZONES ON SERVICE
DISTRIBUTION

6. Location and Connectivity: Varanasi is well connected by road, rail and airways.
● National highways: NH-2, NH-56 and NH-29
● State highways: SH-87, SH-73, SH-74 and SH-98
The linkages include:
○ NH 2- G.T. from Mughal Sarai to Allahabad
○ NH 29- Varanasi to Gorakhpur, Kushinagar
○ NH 56- Varanasi to Jaunpur Lucknow.
LINKAGES TO VMC
ROAD NETWORK
( masterplan 2011)
LOCATION OF RAILWAY
STATIONS

7. Traffic and Transportation
Core/Old city
- High road density
- No hierarchy
- Low-No Parking
Peripheral area
- Low road density
- Some hierarchy
Central area
- Less road density
than old city
- No hierarchy
-More spaced roads
ROAD HIERARCHY
Total length of the roads (VMC) area
1180 km,
Inner Ring Road – The ring road
alignment is Raj
that-Ramnagar-BHU-DLW-Cant
Station-Raj Ghat. The bridge on river
Ganga is being constructed.
Outer Ring Road – From Kachua on
NH2 and intersect Lucknow, Azamgarh
and Ghazipur highways.
Peripheral
area
Central area Old City
TRAFFIC ANALYSIS CONGESTION SPOTS
ROAD DENSITY ANALYSIS
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
Junction node

8. Climate :
● Humid subtropical climate with large variations
between summer and winter temperatures.
● Dry summer: April - June, 22 and 46 °C
● Monsoon season: July - October. (1100mm)
● Winters: December-February
● Wind direction is W- SW.
Topography and geology:
Varanasi is located in
the middle Ganga
valley,along the left
crescent-shaped bank
of the river Ganges.
River system :
Ganga,Gomti.
Tributaries : Varuna,
Asi, Banganga, Chandra
Prabha, Karmanasa.
Geologically, Varanasi is situated in the fertile alluvial
Gangetic plains and is under laid with sediments
deposited in successive stages. Layers of clay, fine
sand, and clay mixed with kankar.
ANALYSIS
● Fertile land supports agriculture
● Urban growth on the convex bank is less
because of erosion and sand deposit
Soil:
Elevation MapTopography Map

9. Demographic Profile : Growth rate
Pop. projection
Age-Sex triangle
Projected growth
Present day growth
Change from 1990 - 2020
DECLINE
GROWTH
GROWTH
CENSUS DATA 2011

10. Economic Profile
MAIN INDUSTRIAL AREAS
VARANASI INDUSTRIAL PROFILE
DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES
● 60% of the total production of silk
woven products in India.
● Caters to the needs of the domestic as
well as the international market.
● Consists of
○ unorganized small units
○ integrated units
● High amount of bonded labour ; set up
within households. .
SILK WEAVING INDUSTRY
HEALTH AND EDUCATION
● Banaras Hindu University
● Sampurnanand Sanskrit University
● Kashi Vidyapeeth
● Central University for Tibetan Studies
● Local traditional crafts-manufacturing
● Local Traditional crafts-retail areas
● Retail areas for the consumer goods
● Retail areas for the durable goods
● Wholesale areas for food grains and spices
● Local culinary hotspots
● Street vending areas in almost all
neighbouring abutting arterial roads
INFORMAL COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES
WORKER CLASSIFICATION
WEAVING CLUSTERS

11. Physical planning: Old City / Central city
AREA OF
DELINEATION
ROAD PATTERNS
Tree
pattern
Network
pattern
Settlement
distribution
GROWTH PATTERN
Linear
Radial
Overlap
radial
+linear
Water
bodies
Points of
inflexion
Road
patterns

12. Spatial growth trends
COMPARATIVE LAND USE PATTERNS ACROSS MASTER PLANS
PHYSICAL GROWTH OF VARANASI

13. Land Use Analysis
VARANASI MASTER PLAN 2031
Residential
Open Space
Institutional
Area
Industry
and
commerce
Cant.
Housing
Old /Core city
Settlement distribution
Road
Network
Water bodies
old city

14. Land Use Analysis
KEY ISSUES
According to the Draft Master Plan, 2031:
● Total land under residential use reduced from 51.6% to 40%.
● Area under recreation has been increased from 5% to 20%.
● A new use category of mixed land use has been introduced in the draft Master Plan 2031, which
primarily includes the area in the old city.
● Also, the above mentioned increase in the recreational area as per draft Master Plan, 2031 has not
been proposed for the old city and recreational/open space facility continues to be lacking in this
area.

15. Housing and Urban Poverty
The core area of the city is very
congested, which is highly densified.
Though there is no scope for further
development in the old city area,
developmental activities taking place
in these areas are causing more stress
on present infrastructure.
GOVT SCHEMES FOR SLUM REHABILITATION
Schemes that are being implemented are Sarv Jan Hitay Gareeb Avas (Slum
Area), Malikana Haq Yojna Manywar (MKDBBSVY), and Shri Kanshi Ramji
Shahri Avas Yojna. DUDA is responsible for the implementation of such
schemes. After implementing these schemes, DUDA hands over the
responsibility of providing services to VMC and Jal Kal.
HOUSING STATISTICS
SLUM STATISTICS
As per the draft Master Plan-2031, a total area of 9886.54 hectare has been
allocated for housing purposes. Of this, 60% of the area has been
developed and the balance 40% will be inhabited over the period of time.
SOCIAL DISTRIBUTION
CONDITION OF SLUMS
DISTRIBUTION OF SLUMS

16. Social Infrastructure
Social and cultural environment of the city includes
health services, education status and role of various
agencies involved in the service provision.
HEALTH FACILITIES
The public sector health services in Varanasi include facilities
of the state
● Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare
● ESI,Central Govt Facilities
● Railway and Cantonment facilities.
● Many private sector facilities
○ (hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics)
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
Varanasi has an overall literacy rate of 79% (male literacy: 83%,
female literacy: 75%).
There are three departments involved in providing education
● Joint Director, GoUP – Looks after schools
● District Inspector of Schools (DIOS)
-classes 9th and above.
● BSA - classes 1st to 8th.
3 main universities:
● Banaras Hindu University
● Sampurnanand Sanskrit University
● Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth
EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE
EDUCATION GAP
RECREATION FACILITIES
● Sports: Sports facilities are mainly made available in
schools to students.
● Malls and parks: There are four malls and many
other commercial centres in Varanasi. The malls house
retail stores, restaurants, food courts and cinema
theatre.
● Museums: Varanasi has two museum
○ Sarnath Museum
○ Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU.
HEALTH INFRA GAP

17. Assessment of urban services SEWERAGE NETWORK LAND FILL SITES
WASTE WATER TREATMENT WATER TREATMENT
SANITATION FACILITIES IN THE
CORE
The VMC is responsible for provision of basic services such as
water supply, sewerage, SWM, SWD and roads.
The DUDA is responsible for provision of housing in slum areas and
the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam is responsible for planning and
construction of water supply, sewerage and storm water drains.
WATER SUPPLY
● More than 100 years old when it was
introduced in year 1892. It was designed for a
population of 2 lakhs
● With increase in population and the
corresponding water demand Ministry of Urban
Development City Development Plan for
Varanasi,
● capacities of different units were increased
from time to time along with reorganization
and the extension of distribution system.
SEWERAGE AND SANITATION
● Divided into two zones: cis-Varuna and
trans-Varuna.
● Existing system is partly over ground and
underground. 30% coverage
● 18% of the total households do not have access
to independent, shared, or community toilets.
● The trans-Varuna area is completely without
sewerage.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
● waste generated comprises biodegradable,
compostable, and recyclable materials.
(religious and vegetable waste and plastic )
● 600 TPD of waste is generated.
● Karsada disposal site is located 20 Km away
on a 40 acre site.
STORM WATER DRAINS
● Poor storm water drainage system.
● Old and incomplete underground and kachcha
open drainage system.(117km)
● Drains connected to branch sewers lleads to the
mixing of sewage with storm water.
● Empty directly into river Ganga and river Varuna
● The open drains are unlined and contaminate the
ground water
● Carry grey water discharged from the settlements
along their path

18. Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism
Kabir Math Area
Bhelupura Area
Ghat Area
Riverfront
Sarnath
Durgakund
Area
HERITAGE ZONES
Varanasi heritage entails famous Ghats, Historic
properties,Houses and streetscapes of the area
adjoining the Ghats, temples, Kunds, and all cultural
practices and expressions that take place in these
properties and areas. There are in all 1564 number of
heritage properties in Varanasi.
INFLOW AND GROWTH
MONTH WISE INFLOW
● Rural Buffer District
● Landscape conservation district
● 5.5 km long crescent shaped basin of the Ganga
river from Nagwa to Raj Ghats,
● 5.3 km stretch of 83 Ghats (stairways to the bank)
● Urban Preservation Sub-Zone, the Old City Heritage
Sub-Zone
● Urban Buffer SubZone, a strip of 50 m to 100 m
wide from the western road
Riverfront heritage zone can be divided into
six sub-zones :
DISTRIBUTION OF TEMPLES
YATRAS AROUND VARANASI
DISTRIBUTION OF TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTRES

19. Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism :
Ghats of Varanasi
GHAT SECTION
DISTRIBUTION OF GHATS
MANIKARNIKA GHAT DASHWAMEDH OF GHAT
Sitala
Ghat
Dashwamedha
Ghat
Manikarnika
Ghat
Sankatha
Ghat
1860s
2019
1863
2019

20. Cultural resources, Heritage and Tourism :
Ghats of Varanasi
KEY ISSUES
● The number of tourists has reduced (2012 to 2013) due to pollution,
traffic congestion, flood like situation and poor roads.
● Lack of guided tours and information centres. City guides or brochures
not easily available to tourists
● Lack of signage in city ‘Galis’
● Lack of protection to heritage sites and its conservation, natural decay
and damage to properties also occur with time.
● The number of kunds is reducing every year is due to neglect,
unregulated construction in the catchment areas of the respective kunds,
● Most of the heritage properties in the inner city area face vague
ownership.
● Multiple agencies are involved in the conservation of heritage sites with
overlapping jurisdictions
● There is need for review of existing bye-laws
● Shrinking spaces: the population growth is increasing demand for
utilizing available land,
● Threat to river Ganga: river width reduced from 225-250m to 60-70m.
Main stream has lost high speed current due to less volume and
pressure
The depth of the bed is drastically became victim of deposition
the river has already left the bank about 7-8m.
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
● Archaeological Survey of India
● Ministry of Tourism
● Regional Cultural Centre
● Directorate of Archaeology, Uttar Pradesh
● Varanasi Development Authority
● Varanasi Municipal Corporation
● Varanasi Heritage Cell
KUNDS
Represent the ancient knowledge of storm water management
Many Kunds are located in the route of three yatras conducted in Varanasi, The
Panchkoshi Yatra covers the largest number of Kunds. During heavy rains, the Kunds used
to act as points of drainage for surrounding areas.
In the past, each Kund had a catchment area in its immediate surroundings and were
interconnected by underground channels through which surplus water was drained into
the river Ganges.
FESTIVALS INVITING TOURISTS
● Ganga Water Rally
● Ganga Mahotsav
● Buddha Mahotsav
● Dhrup Mela
● Ramleela of Ramnagar
● Hanuman Jayanti

21. Sustainable development
Physical dimension
● Availability and access to electricity is
limited
● Water supplied to 75% of the city, but
may be reduced in an event of disaster
● Solid waste is collected, but not recycled
● Roads may increase in capacity if
equipped with drainage system
Social dimension
● <23% of the population suffers from
water-borne or vector- borne disease
● < 75% of the population has access to
primary health infrastructure
● It would benefit further if public
awareness/disaster drills are initiated
by VMC
Economic dimension
● 24% live below poverty line
● Employment rate is 18%
● Households have basic housing
infrastructure
Institutional dimension
● Emergency teams are limited in their
capacity to deal with a disaster
● Disaster management plan is not
sufficiently implemented
Natural dimension
● City prone to floods, heat waves, and droughts
● Quality level of urban biodiversity, soil, and water
bodies are moderately affected by the ongoing
development process
VARANASI’S CLIMATE CHANGE
RESILIENCE
CARBON FOOTPRINT AND HEAT ISLAND MAPPING
HEAT ISLAND MAP
zones in which Urban Heat Islands might
exist are identified.
Identifying and classifying these zones is
important in identifying areas that have a
more prominent need to install
heat-mitigating infrastructure.
AIR QUALITY INDEX
Air quality as observed is poor in central
and core areas of the city due to lack of
greenery.
Air quality improves in peripheral areas

22. SWOT Analysis
STRENGTHS
● The core of the city houses the population
that is part of the urban fabric of the city
● Tourism potential: For all religions, River
Ganga, the Ghats and other sites-Ashoka
Pillar, Sarnath etc.
● Weaving industry is a major contributor to
local economy
● A perennial water source in River Ganga so
availability of water will never be a problem
● Tremendous amount of heritage treasures
● It is important to provide better facilities to
the people of old city.
● Population growth in old city has saturated
and the growth of population is
decelerating
● Tourism:Established tourism base used well.
Foreign tourists
● Appropriate measures such as conservation
and rain water harvesting can recharge the
ground water as well.
WEAKNESS
● Old city of Varanasi has very cramped spaces.
● There is immense pressure from tourism,
economic development and population on the
ghat area
● Lack of support infrastructure such as quality
roads for better access and facilities for
tourists-rest rooms, toilets, hotels, etc.
● Poor Infrastructure services are such as high
water losses, poor coverage of toilets, and
absence of door to door waste collection
● Lack of coordination while planning and
initiating development work among authorities
● Quality of life might decline further
● In the event of any natural disaster, the core
area without any planning would be impacted
most.
● Traffic management is crucial during fairs and
festivals
● Increasing population is over burdening the
carrying capacity of the urban environment and
the river ecosystem
● Unplanned mass tourism can have a hard impact
on the cultural carrying capacity of the old city
centre
● Non availability of sanitation facilities
STRENGTHS
● Religious, spiritual and educational centre- High importance
● Heritage treasures of the city- High importance
● Agrarian based surroundings support the trade and commerce of cash crops
-Medium importance
● Varanasi city is the regional centre for Purvanchal districts- Medium importance
● The city is well connected with road and railway network- Medium importance
WEAKNESS
● Lack of coordination between ULB and Parastatals agencies with respect to
Urban transport management
● Basic services such as water supply, sewerage and sanitation are lacking
● Core city is already saturated with high density and congestion related issues
● Low Conducive environment for habitation and Industrial activity
OPPORTUNITIES
● CBUD project and potentiality to be receive funds under NUM/Smart city
THREATS
● Ineffective disposal system could create environmental hazard
● Spurring squatter settlements due to seasonal migration of unskilled labour
force

23. Bibliography :
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● https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Varanasi-Development-Region-Development-Plan-2011
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●