CHOWK BAZAAR Transition of Old Local Market Street into Pedestrian Zone Optimizing existing Heritage Fabric of Raja Bhoj’s Plan: Promoting Walkability

Abstract

Chowk bazaar known for the dominance of its commercial character & heritage fabric of Old Bhopal city and Raja bhoj’s master plan (1010 to 1055) with a grid iron maze, old mosques and residences (Havelis) that hark back to olden times, teeming with shops that are a collector’s heaven, narrow old city roads planted or not, all have an organic maze-like character. The Chowk is mesmeric in its offerings. This Traditional market has played an essential role in Bhopal’s identity and economy. But such roles have been declining as encroached streets, irregular vehicular movements, illegal parking and unconscious usability of the market place result in inconvenience and various services resisting accessibility to a good number of consumers.
A declining traditional market of Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh is taken to analyze the status of its basic elements, such as its movement pattern across streets and propose as per market requirements, complex buildings, usage, and spatial characteristics, and finally, a method to revitalize the movement across the streets and developing an old street character.