Urban Art Commission proposes Yamuna Bank facelift

The DUAC has proposed major revamping of the Yamuna Bank to promote activities around the area and introduce several access points to the river. Currently, the Yamuna bears the brunt of being severely polluted and has failed to attract tourists.

   The major parts of the river is disconnected with no developed public life around it, the Commission has observed in a latest study conducted by it. The traffic system around the belt is so developed that there is public-point access through walking or bicycles either.  “The two major problems are pollution of the Yamuna and fragile public life around it. The proposal is to boost activities around the Yamuna Bank so that it is not disconnected,” said a Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) consultant.

Besides improving the quality of the river, it is important that it is linked to the historical and religious places around it. There is also a need to promote recreational facilities surrounding the river body. Industrial waste, garbage disposal, immersion of idols, cattle bathing, sewage water from domestic houses have contributed to the poor quality of water here. The water quality needs to be first improved. 

The site is close to the historical monument Feroz Shah Kotla, Rajghat, the Chatt Ghat which is an important religious place. But there is little pedestrian linkage to the river front. 

“The river belt needs to be a part of this belt so that tourists visit it while taking a tour of the monuments or the religious places,” said the official.

The Commission has now come up with the idea of introducing over three nodal points at the site – welcome zone, religious zone, green ecozone and pedestrian paths zone among others.  The near-by Indraprastha Power Plant should be developed into a multi-use building with offices, cultural centres, a museum and cafe, the proposal mentions.

“The site is mainly dominated by offices and it is active only during office hours. The public spaces in and around the river remain underutilised,” said a DUAC official.

The study now has  proposed several recreational facilities which will help revive the river. A bicycle trail and a toy train on the railway tracks along the river trail have now been put forward as proposals to draw tourists to the site. A solar farm at an open space near-by can help it develop into an ecologically sensitive zone.