Kerala TOD Policy
Kerala TOD Policy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Background ................................
................................................................................................
................................................. 5
a. Densification
ensification of TOD Zone ................................................................
......................................................... 9
b. Promotion ofMixed use buildings & zones in the TOD Zone ...................................
................................ 11
c. Promotion of multi-use
use transit stations ................................................................
..................................... 11
1. Background
India is classified as an emerging and developing country that is experiencing rapid
economic development. The same is associated with exponentially rising transportation
activity due to a steadily increasing demand to move more people and goods further an
and
faster. This can be regarded as both a cause and an effect of India’s rapid economic growth.
The growth in use of personal vehicles, as well as goods vehicles corresponding to a surge in
fuel use and resultant vehicular emissions causing environmental issues,, traffic congestions,
increased travel time etc. are some of the relevant issues which are to be addressed at the
earliest.. Though the increase in mobility is necessary to boost and sustain the standard of
living, the unpleasant consequences associate
associated with the same are to be minimized as far as
possible.
It is a known fact that the State is having a very unique settlement pattern. The State
differs from the rest of the country in the sense that, in most parts of the State, there exists a
continuous spread of habitation without much open lands or green fields.
fields This type of
settlement pattern has paved way for an urban-rural
rural continuum in the State,
State resulting in a
pattern of a ribbon and continuous development which is not regarded as a sustainable
sus model
in the long term. It is evident that there exists a symbiotic relationship between land use of a
region and transportation. With increase in urban spread, the length and time of travel are
increasing leading to higher cost of transport, with higher fuel consumptions, higher
emissions etc. Hence, a selective concentration of urban functions with a sincere attempt to
have compact urban form to achieve effective integrated development of urban areas is a need
of the hour.
For promoting sustainable modes of urban transport, a bifocal approach is often seen as
most suitable. Through thiss approach, not only tthe travel requirement is minimised leading to
a decrease in time and length of travel
travel, but also the share of travel by personal transit modes
also decreases.. For the same, sustainable modes of transits, such as public transport would
need to be augmented to meet the huge travel demands and non-motorised
motorised modes of transport
shall be promoted to facilitate comfortable short and daily trips.. To materialise this bifocal
b
strategy, in the Kerala context
context, it is ideal to transform the cities of the State based on Transit
Oriented Development pattern and principles.
The Transit-Oriented
Oriented Development (TOD) concept is a strategy which supports the
effective and efficient use
se of public transport and mass rapid transit systems (MRTS),
(MRTS) by
integrating land use to make the cities efficient, healthy, liveable and smart. TOD aims to
develop planned sustainable urban growth centres by implementing
ting the principles of compact
development, walkable cities, with emphasis on ensuring green and recreational open spaces
and ease of access.
2. Definitions&
& Abbreviations
a) MRTS : Mass Rapid Transit System (Like Metro Rail Systems)
c) NMT : Non-Motorised
Motorised Transport.
f) Transit Corridor: The term "Transit Corridor" refers to all of the existing and proposed
public transportation routes, such as the Metro Rail
Rail, Light Rail,
Rail Monorail
Corridor/Network or High Capacity Public Transport Corridor etc. proposed by the
Government or proposed
sed in a plan formulated under the Kerala Town and Country
Planning Act, 2016.
g) TOD Area / TOD Zone: Area within a specified distance from the transit corridor, that
ensures walkability (5-10
10 Minute Walk) to both sides of the Transit Corridor. Such width
off the TOD zone on both sides from the centre line of the transit corridor shall be
identified through the master plans / local area plans and such detailed spatial plans
plans.
Varying
arying widths may also be considered for TOD zone with due regard to locational
characteristics of the area.
Kerala is one of the most rapidly urbanising States in the country. Due to this rapid urban
growth, demand for urban infrastructure and urban services, including demand for transit
infrastructure and services is constantly on the rising trajectory. Since, transportation and
Land-use
use are two highly interdependent components, L
Land-use
use planning is a key and vital
tool for balancing the transit and transportation demands of the urban space within the limits
of the available urban infrastructure
infrastructure. Transit systems like MRTS, metro rails and systems like
LRTS are often seen as a solution to meet the growing travel demand. However, the transit
systems need to be adequately linked and supported bby the Land-use
use of the region. The
interaction between different land
land-uses and these transit systems can lead to a development
pattern that supports the transit systems to reduce traffic congestion and at the same time
concentrate the urban development to tthe TOD zone and thereby limiting urban sprawl.
and shoppers to use the public transit facility in combination with walking and non-motorised
non
transport and thereby lower their reliance on private motorised vehicles.
High density development is highly desirable at and around transit stations and along the
transit corridors, taking into account the local environment and nature of developments,
developments
location and potential of transit station
stations and nature of the transit corridor. High density
development may be encouraged
ncouraged close to public transportation infrastructure,
infrastructure transit corridor
and such other transportation facili
facilities.
ties. Building types with the maximum density shall be
located as close as possible to the transit stations and corridors
corridors. An optimum density to ensure
e
maximum serviceability of the region shall be derived and too achieve the intended
densification, the following tools and regulations may beincluded, detailed and enforced
through the Master Plans, Detailed Town Planning Schemes / Local Area Plans or such other
spatial plans.
amalgamation of smaller plots into plots of a certain minimum size may also be
explored.
● Exceptions
xceptions to Densification Strategy
Strategy: Though densification is generally a prime
objective of TOD, areas of heritage significance, natural features worth conservation etc.
falling within the TOD zone shall be duly respected, while formulating proposals for tthe
zone. Mandatory regulations applicable to the TOD area shall also be complied.
b. Promotion of Mixed
ixed use buildings & zones in the TOD Zone
TOD zone may permit a mix of residential, commercial, office, business,
business public semi -
public, entertainment, and service uses. The mix of uses shall be vertically and/or horizontally
distributed throughout the TOD area. This shall generate a wide range of applications within
a compact, walkable TOD zone and shall foster collaboration among the various types of
development.
opment. Mixed use buildings shall be prom
promoted
oted by employing the following strategies.
c. Promotion of multi-use
use transit stations
Transit stations of all types of transit such as MRTS / Bus / Mobility hubs have the
potential to become centres of activity. Hence, multiple uses may be explored here as a tool to
densify the TOD zone. Provision of leasable space may be promoted at transit stations with
relaxation in building rule regulations/provisions, as feasible. Vertical multi
multi-use may be
promoted in transit stations. Mandatory public amenities may be provided at all transit
stations which shall be accessible to pedestrians including non-commuters.
commuters. Designated spaces
d. Promote wide
ide spectrum of inclusive & affordable housing
TOD can be an essential component of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy
as living adjacent to public transportat
transportation
ion can significantly reduce transportation costs of the
households. Wide spectrum of housing shall comprise a range of housing units for individuals
of various income levels.
In order to ensure the availability of affordable housing into the TOD zone, aaffordable
and compact housing units may be promoted within the TOD area for all large scale housing
and apartment projects, where
wherein
in the threshold scale of such housing project, share of
affordable housing and such details as required, may be specified through
ugh appropriate spatial
plans. Wherever feasible,, the affordable housing units may be located within close proximity
to the public transit facility as the consumers of such units are likely to depend largely on
Public Transportation. Feasibility of introducing affordable housing on land pooled in through
land pooling schemes may also be explored. For publically funded
ded affordable housing projects
also, the TOD Zone may be given preference as feasible.
Designing major
ajor transit hubs and transit stations as multimodal transit hubs shall be
explored and promoted,, integrating several modes of transportation
ion and enabling seamless
interchange between them. Multi
Multi-modal integration may include other integration components
that are essential to public transportation, such as inter-operable fare and ticketing,
ticketing seamless
communication and status data transfer
transfer, integrated passenger information system of all modes
of transport etc., in addition to the physical integration. Therefore, an appropriate intelligent
and informed public transport
transportation system may be introduced, which ensures availability of
real time information to the passengers via digital modes. The following strategies may be
adopted to ensure multimodal integration and last mile connectivity
connectivity.
Feasibility for providing easy aaccess for pedestrians and NMT users to other public
transportation system may be explored and be given priority. In any major development
proposals / project proposals in the TOD areas attracting large population,, direct connectivity
for pedestrians from the envisaged project to the transit station may be encouraged in an
orderly manner.
Pleasant walking & cycling environment encourages users from all income groups to
walk and use bicycles for access
accessing public transportation. Utilising bicycles and pedestrian
travel for such journeys lowers the overall travel expenses and reduces the reliance on
motorised transportation. To improve the walkability and NMT friendliness of the corridor,
the following strategies may be adopted.
als obe
be provided in these area
areas. Such models may be attempted in TOD zones.
● Cycle Track: Feasibility to designate sseparate cycle tracks may be explored along the
main transit corridor and selected feeder roads as required, within the TOD zone.
● Accessible streets: Creation of Barrier free environment may be promoted for public
facilities, streets, footpaths and such other amenities proposed for the pedestrians and
NMT users. Further, feasible and required traffic calming measures may also be
incorporated to provide safe walking and cycling environment.
● Shared Front Open Spaces: Restrictions may also be imposed on erecting compound
walls in the yard abutting the TOD Corridor / designated streets. Such area may also be
kept free of parking to reiterate walkability and NMT in TOD zones
zones.
● Form Based Codes: To address the relationship between building facades and the public
realm, the form & mass of buildings in relation to one another,, the scale and types of
streets & blocks, open spaces & streetscapes, tree cover etc., form based
b codes may be
adopted.
● Uniform Landscaping: The shared front open space may be specified to have uniform
pattern of landscaping and such feasible landscaping
aping patterns may be specified though
Master Plans or Local Area Plans / Detailed Town Planning Schemes.
Schemes Further, no
parking may be allowed in the front open space so as to encourage the uniform up
up-
keeping of landscaping and to keep the front open space barrier & obstruction free.
● Street Lighting: The Front open space and footpath may be uniformly lighted. Such
suitable lighting patterns including colour of light, luminance, height of light, interval of
such lights etc. may be specified through the applicable statutory spatial plans.
plans
● Designed Streets: Urban design
esign guidelines with regard to elements such as street
furniture, size / height / dimensions of signage, hoardings,, height of mounting, etc. may
be specified through the applicable statutory spatial plans.
● Promoting Active Night Streets: Extended
xtended late working hours for identified commercial
buildings and public facilities to enhance nightlife and activities in the TOD zone shall
be encouraged.. This shall also improve natural visual surveillance and shall act as a
magnet of activities during night hours.
● Limiting Advertisements / Hoardings etc.: Designated advertisement zones may be
provided at specific locations and shall be monitored. Casual and un
un-monitored
advertising may not be allowed in the TOD zone and necessary stipulations may be
bought in through applicable statutory spatial plans.
● Vending Zones: Designated hawker zones may be provided for street vendors and any
sort of encroachments to undesignated area may be strictly avoided. Vending zones may
be specifically allotted to identified vendors at designated times and the space may also
be encouraged to be shared as parking space during the off business hours.
● Green Space Requirement: Through Master Plans or Local Area Plans / Detailed Town
Planning Schemes, a percentage of the total area of the TOD zone may be maintained as
green space or recreational space
space, as required. Such recreational
ecreational space may be formed
through land pooling/land acquisition or such suitable measures. Feasible public lands,
river buffers and
nd conservation zones may also be promoted for getting opened up and
managed as recreational spaces and green spaces. Formation and upkeep of such
recreational spaces and green spaces may be ideally vested with the transit authority or
such feasible organisations.
sations.
● Blue – Green Infrastructure: The existing blue and green public spaces shall be
rejuvenated & preserved, and the potential to establish a blue-green
green network shall also be
explored.
● Mitigation of Urban Heat & Heat Island Effects: To ensure a pleasant and comfortable
atmosphere within the TOD zzone, measures may be proposed to mitigate urban heat.
Priority shall be given to make the spaces cooler and comfortable through suitable means
with due consideration to the humidity of the state. Emphasis may be given for
identification of present and potential urban heat islands and adequate measures to
mitigate such heat island to a considerable level may be incorporated so as to facilitate
pleasant and comfortable experience for pedestrians and NMT users.
● Green & Energy Efficient Buildings to be promoted: Adequate promotional measures
may be offered to Green and Energy Efficient Buildings proposed within the TOD Zone.
Land Value Capture can be used as a mechanism to finance the required upgradation of
infrastructure and amenities within the TOD zone and expansion of the public transport
system. In TOD influence
nfluence zones, land value capture can be done through enhanced or
additional land value tax or one time betterment levy, development charges or impact fees,
transfer of development rights (TDRs), or such other mechanisms.
10. Conclusion
The implementation of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has been acknowledged
as a viable solution to various urban development
elopment problems. TOD offers ample potential to
promote inclusive and sustainable urban mobility. In Kerala’s context, a Mass Rapid Transit
System (MRTS) already exists in the city of Ernakulam,, with significant potential for TOD in
the influence zone of the transit facility
facility. Two other major cities of Kerala namely, the capital
Through effective integration of land use regulations and the expansion of the
transportation network, TOD can also improve the liveability and resilience of cities by
imparting compact and public tran
transit oriented development.. The possibility to use land value
capture methods to improve city budgets can also be explored.. Hence, a coordinated
incorporation and implementation of the TOD proposals, land use regulations, building rules
and urban administration
tion is to be ensured in order to optimise the socio-economic
socio and
infrastructural gains from implementation of the transit systems and TOD zones.