Kathjodi Riverfront Development

Project idea

Kathjodi river is an ancient river of Cuttack, Odisha, India. But with due course of time the importance of this river has declined. So, to educate the young generation about the rich heritage and to generate revenue a river front development is proposed. The site is therefore specifically chosen which is actually the merging point of the twin cities Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. This merging point attracts young crowd throughout the day and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Bridge links both the cities. The goal is to create a river front park which is educational as well as social and which can be used by the general public for relaxation purpose.

Project description

By studying the present scenario of the site, it is divided in a radial pattern. The radial planning helps the users to easily identify the spaces without confusing them. Also, the radial pattern symbolises the sunset point at the site, which is always crowded by the users. A peripheral cycling path is provided so that the users can cycle around the site. The play area is designed with bright colours to attract the youth and the children. The site follows the theme of a fort. A fort concept has been taken up since the meaning of Cuttack is fort. The concept is applied by providing a moat along the periphery of the site beside the promenade.

Technical information

According to the building morphology and the site scale, all the buildups in the site are low-rise. Since it is a river front, the banks are prone to frequent soil erosion, therefore proper embankment is provided along the promenade. Also, Cuttack is very much prone to cyclones therefore the vegetation used for the site are selected accordingly. The issue of delivering better public spaces is seen here first through the prism of planning. In the first stages of the project, a simple and adaptable design is maintained that will allow for future enhancement of the space as funds become available and the community more involved.