TOWN PLANNING

THE CITY OF MADURAI.

VIJAY KUMAR M
S6 AR
#37

INTRODUCTION

Madurai(formerlyMadura) is a major city and cultural headquarters

in the state ofTamil Naduinsouthern India.

Madurai is the second largest corporation city by area and third

largest city by population in Tamil Naduand the31 st largest urban
agglomerationinIndia.

Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and is one of
the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

LOCATION

Located on the banks ofRiver

Vaigai, Tamil nadu.

It is the administrative
headquarters of Madurai District.

AREA : 51.96 sq km

POPULATION (2011): 11,37,595

HISTORY OF THE CITY

Madurai has been inhabited since at

least the 3rd century BCE. Megasthenes
(the Greek ambassador to India)may
have visited Madurai during the 3rd
century BCE, with the city referred as
"Methora" in his accounts.

The view is contested by some scholars

who believe "Methora" refers to the
north Indian city ofMathura, as it was a
large and established city in
theMauryan Empire.

CONT..

The city evolved as a political and

industrial complex through the 19th and
20th centuries to become a district
headquarters of a larger Madurai
district.

In 1837, the fortifications around the

temple were demolished by the British.
The moat was drained and the debris
was used to construct new streets
Veli , Marat streets.

ARCHITECTURE

Madurai is built around the

Meenakshi Temple, which acted as
the geographic and ritual centre of
the ancient city of Madurai.

The city is divided into a number

of concentric quadrangular streets
around the temple.

CONT..

During 115964 CE the first Madurai Nayak king, redesigned the city in
accordance with the principles laid out byShilpa Shastras
(Sanskrit:meaning rules of architecture) related to urban planning.

These squares retain their traditional names of Aadi, Chittirai, Avani

and Masi streets, corresponding to the month names and also to the
festivals associated.

The city's axes were aligned with the four quarters of the compass,
and the four gateways of the temple provided access to it. The wealthy
and higher echelons of the society were placed in streets close to the
temple, while the poorest were placed in the fringe streets.

DEVELOPMENT

Stages of city development along the river Vaigai

Today it is an important educational, industrial and tourism hub,

but retains many remnants of its historic origins. The intricate
network of rivers, channel, canals, tanks and groundwater forms
the citys essential blue-green infrastructure, providing water,
drainage and sanitation for domestic, agricultural and industrial
use.

The city is growing rapidly, and is expected to rise from 1.4m in

2011 to over 2 million people by 2031. This will lead to further
pressures on infrastructure, housing, and basic services.

City is also facing a wide range of risks that will hinder future economic growth and
quality of life .These are risks such as water scarcity, climate change, growing traffic
congestion and damage to important natural habitats.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Future Proofing Urban Diagnostics process which was

completed by Madurai Municipal Corporation in January 2014.

Future proofing is about identifying and developing solutions

which can respond to the risks associated with issues such as
climate change, resource scarcities, and damage to vital
ecosystems but in a way which catalyses broader economic
development, improves access to basic services, and tackles
urban poverty.

Cont..

The city government identified blue green infrastructure as the

priority issue that required action whichis essentially about
demonstrating how to manage the interconnected set of challenges
relating to water resources management (surface and ground water),
water supply, water quality, sanitation, solid waste management,
flooding and conservation of natural ecosystems in the context of
the urban development and its changing climate.

A comprehensive City Development Plan was drawn up in June

2006 which emphasis on issues of liveability and the implied
requirements in terms of enhancing city productivity, reducing
poverty, improving urban governance and management and
enhancing financial sustainability.

SYSTEMS INCLUDED:

Sanitation, including sewer system rehabilitation;

Improved solid waste management;

Rehabilitation of channels and tanks and green infrastructure

improvements;

Flood and surface water management;

Water resources supply-demand balance;

Governance and future proofing planning.

THANK YOU