FLYOVER an urban void

FLYOVER a high-level road bridge that crosses over a highway interchange or intersection

INFRASTRUCTURAL BARRIER

or

POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR KNITTING THE CITY FABRIC

VS

Kathipara grade separator

VS

Koyambedu grade separator

VS

Gemini Flyover
VS

Perambur Flyover
WHY FLYOVER?
A flyover is a bridge that carries one road or railway line above another either with or
without subsidiary roads, for communication between the two sides.

As the traffic on the road goes on increasing and we don’t have any space left in
both the dimensions, then the only option left will be to go to the third dimension and
that is done through flyover construction.
USES OF FLYOVER
Flyovers play a major role in streamlining the traffic control system.
Through flyovers plenty of time is saved avoiding congestion.
Pollution effect is reduced.
Flyovers reduce the risk of accidents
Flyovers also contribute a lot to the aesthetics of the city. The persons traveling on the
flyover can enjoy the panoramic view of the city.
Flyover also marks the infrastructure advancement of a city.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF FLYOVER
Encroached by squatters
Wastage of usable space / dead pockets
Unused large open areas in a high economic value region
Flyovers require a large area and construction cost is high
Create undesirable views - Lowering the value of adjacent properties
 Littered with filth and dumping grounds for garbage / land misuses such as dumping debris
Street hawkers
Criminal activities / abandoning of cars
At times, not effective usage of flyovers
Disconnect neighborhoods - Gap within its context
Make pedestrian crossing undesirable
POTENTIAL OF SPACE UNDER FLYOVER
Since space under flyover is not always programmed, and it doesn’t have a territory, it is used
by different sets of people at different point of time.
It can be either formal or informal public space.
Uniqueness of flyover than other voids is its character of overhead shelter.
Generous longitudinal underneath space which is barrier free.
Its sheltered from heat and rain.
Free from land tenure disputes, real estate and politics.
Highly visible spaces.
Breathing zones in urban area
Thus, the negative effects produced by flyovers can be reduced through careful design and
incorporation of the spaces below into their surrounding urban environment.
HOW CAN THESE LEFT OVER SPACES BE PUT TO USE?
Instead of parking, we propose spaces for play, for shelter, for community building, for
worship and for celebration.
Create well-lit, cohesive public spaces such as pocket parks, shaded seating areas, food
courts, gathering spaces, plazas and play areas.
Provide vending opportunities in dense neighbourhoods through kiosks, markets and vending
zones to attract the public.
Improve overall pedestrian connectivity.
Insert public facilities such as auto rickshaw stands, public toilets and strategic parking.
Facilitate use of these spaces by lighting, signage and waste collection.
Improve linkages across the bridge under-spaces by redesigning road intersections under the
bridge.
Transformation from…
Transform to…
CASE STUDY FLYOVERS IN CAIRO, EGYPT
UNDER FLYOVERS IN CAIRO, EGYPT
There are almost 70 flyovers and elevated roads in Cairo, most notably the ring road, Which are
needed to cope with the chronic problem of traffic.
However, these structures are strong physical barriers that act like giant scars that tear the overall
continuity of the city’s physical form.

In most cases, the spaces underneath elevated freeways and roadways have been left underused,
dirty, dark, ugly, lowly, without purpose, unattractive, deteriorating and some cases frightening.
They are lost outdoor spaces that are ignored or denied.

While the underside of this infrastructure remains unused, there is a lack of basic urban amenities
in many neighbourhoods in Cairo.
There is also a lack of places that invite for public interaction.
UNDER FLYOVERS IN CAIRO, EGYPT
The under-bridge spaces are a precious opportunity for local communities.
These dead spaces can be transformed into creative venues for various community facilities
and outdoors activities such as libraries, markets, public spaces, playgrounds, art galleries,
canteens, seating areas with traditional board games.

These kinds of projects could work as gathering points that help different categories of
residents to interact with each other.

Imagine another kind of Cairo where the environmental settings help locals and passers-by to
gather for cultural and social functions.
These are great public places from which public life may grow and, thus, improving the quality
of life in Cairo.
CASE STUDY TULPULE FLYOVER,
MUMBAI
TULPULE FLYOVER, MUMBAI
The Tulpule Flyover, runs over one of the densest and most frantic neighbourhoods of Mumbai. It is a
mess of traffic above and a mess of traffic below. All accommodations are made for the car and
truck, while pedestrians are left to fend for themselves.
Open spaces below several flyovers across the city have been encroached. Still, a host of activities
happen here nonetheless. In the mornings, informal markets spring up selling everything from chai to
chickens, fish to fruit.
Street children play games; mothers wash clothing, cook food and sell small goods in the tiny leftover
spaces of intersections and traffic medians.
In the evening, food stalls set up shop and labourers gather to share food and drink, some eventually
falling asleep in the vacated parking spaces.
Thus the stretch identified is beneath the Ambedkar Road (officially known as the Tulpule flyover)
between King’s Circle and Dadar, which is nearly 1 km long.
 In a bid to prevent encroachment by illegally parked cars and beggars, residents first approached
the BMC and local police to barricade the entrance. Preventive measures have led to a lot of space
being cleared. The difference is clearly seen beneath the flyover in the mornings or evenings.
TULPULE FLYOVER, MUMBAI - PROPOSAL
The design submitted to MMRDA speaks for itself. It clearly shows exactly where local
residents want to set up a small museum displaying old photos of the city.
Apart from this, the plan also includes an amphitheater, a skating path, a joggers’ track,
seating arrangements for people, small flower garden and even a basketball court.
Residents also want to create seating arrangements around the pillars of the flyover in
addition to creating a circular track for people to walk or jog on.
These amenities will be spread out at regular intervals under the flyover, providing
enough space for people to relax.
CASE STUDY IIM FLYOVER, AHMEDABAD
IIM FLYOVER UNDER SPACE AND STREET DEVELOPMENT
Ahmedabad has a number of bridges and flyovers to increase the connectivity within the city. While the bridges
are planned primarily for improving vehicular flows, the spaces under the bridge structures are left unplanned,
ending up as haphazard parking, encroachments and garbage dumps.

Such disused spaces degrade the surrounding areas and act as a divide in neighbourhoods. However, the civic
body finally seems to be waking up to the gross disuse of property worth lakhs, though it has taken the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) a whole year to plan and finalize the design for space utilization at
one such over bridge. A few options have been shortlisted like setting up a vegetable market, a mini food court,
rickshaw parking space and also a small library.

AMC's bridges department had carried out a survey to identify flyovers which have adequate space that can be
utilised for public use. HCP is engaged in this initiative by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) towards
improving the urban environment and aims to humanize these transport infrastructures and reclaim the underutilized
spaces under bridges and flyovers.

The proposed uses under these bridges are context specific and based on the detailed study of the adjacent
neighbourhoods, on-site documentation of the bridges and general use and activity patterns.
 IIM FLYOVER UNDER SPACE AND STREET DEVELOPMENT
AMC had proposed a flyover at the IIM junction due to the prolonged traffic congestion at this intersection and HCP
was awarded the project for design and project management which includes city wide traffic pattern and traffic
count surveys of the intersection, which lead to the finalization of the alignment of the flyover.

This project goes beyond the conventional flyover project. It includes comprehensive development of 920m length
that includes the flyover (504 m), the spaces under the flyover and the complete right-of-way width. It is a four lane
flyover having a total width of 13.5 m. The public space under the flyover constitutes of 1340 sq. m. of built up area.
The construction sequencing of the flyover is also designed to minimize the impacts on the surroundings and on the
traffic and BRTS operation along 132ft road during construction.
 IIM FLYOVER UNDER SPACE AND STREET DEVELOPMENT

Flyover spaces includes:

1. Entrance plaza
2. Enclosed space inside the flyover
3. Planters
4. Street development
5. Carriage way
6. Side way
UNDER THE Chennai Flyovers

FLYOVER redesign Proposals

UNDER THE FLYOVER _ PROPOSAL
Flyovers to be covered in the first phase are those on Royapettah High Road, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road
near The Music Academy, T.T.K. Road in Alwarpet, Cenotaph Road and Sardar Patel Road.

Each of the flyovers will display local flavours of Chennai.

The proposal for the R.K. Salai flyover will depict the city's identity as a center for music. The Pantheon Road
flyover will bear an archaeological flavour and the Sardar Patel Road flyover may display elements of
education, due to its proximity to reputable institutions.
Landscaping will aid in making encroachments impossible.
A sunken gallery space would be created by excavating earth beneath the R.K. Salai flyover. Plans to
install panels with LED fittings for lighting and solar pipes, and landscaping of an 80 meter-stretch,
promise to make the area visually appealing.
 The solar pipes function by total internal reflection and will provide natural lighting in the landscaped
areas. U-turns and zebra crossings will be demarcated with inputs from traffic police.
 Spaces would be created for an ambulance and police vehicles. Renting bicycles stands for tourists
who wish to go for a ride would be setup. Public conveniences will also come up.
All these proposals would enliven these spaces and add life to different localities.
Dr. Radhakrishnan Road flyover
Dr. Radhakrishnan Road flyover
Music Academy flyover
Music Academy flyover
Music Academy flyover
Music Academy flyover
Music Academy flyover
Music Academy flyover
Alwarpet flyover
TTK road flyover
INFERENCE
Observation of the case studies strongly manifest of the opportunities and
possibilities that the disregarded leftover spaces under the flyovers offers.

All case studies though different in location and community background,

suggest of future activities and uses that could be considered in designing
spaces under the flyovers if conditions permit.

Some similarities of activities and uses were found which suggest that in order
to attract users from surrounding communities the leftover space may need to
have cafes, food stalls, leisure, recreational activities, business and occasional
weekly activities.

However, each area have their own unique characters, therefore activities that
is distinctively unique to that area should be allowed to expand in order to
create places with identity rather than homogenous spaces of traditional
planning.
| GEEVA CHANDANA |