IRSDC Formulates First Of Its Kind Codes for Station Redevelopment

SK Lohia, MD & CEO, IRSDC What do these new codes for station redevelopment include? Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), the nodal agency for station redevelopment in India, has prepared a comprehensive set of Codes, Guidel

BY Realty Plus
Published - Saturday, 17 Apr, 2021

IRSDC Formulates First Of Its Kind Codes for Station Redevelopment

SK Lohia, MD & CEO, IRSDC What do these new codes for station redevelopment include? Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), the nodal agency for station redevelopment in India, has prepared a comprehensive set of Codes, Guidelines and Norms to plan station redevelopment and commercial development on railway land on principles of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). IRSDC has adopted Form-Based Codes approach, as per the guidebook issued by MoHUA, to regulate Commercial Development on Railway Land. These comprehensive set of Codes, Guidelines and Norms are to plan railway land area on principles of Transit Oriented Development. These codes are compiled as nine documents for ease of comprehension, yet these ensure an integrated application and response Codes/ handbook/ guidebook are compiled in six parts a) Handbook for Station Planning b) Guidebook for Operationalizing National Transit-Oriented Development Policy for Railway and Station (Re) development c) Form-Based Codes for Commercial Development of Railway Land d) Codes for Architectural Design of Commercial Assets e) Green Building Codes for Commercial Development on Railway Land and f) Codes for Railway Heritage Asset. Testing of the draft codes is being done at the ongoing Station Redevelopment Projects at Chandigarh, Nagpur, Gwalior, Amritsar, Bijwasan, Anand Vihar, CSMT etc. What is the importance of these codes? The codes for Station redevelopment along with Commercial Development on Railway Land are a comprehensive set of codes/ handbook/ guidebooks prepared over a period of time after thorough research, site studies, the study of best practices, and study of similar national and international codes and tested through sample application on station development works. The codes have been formulated with a vision to standardize planning and implementation across railway stations and railway lands, encouraging public-private partnerships. These codes are now being made public for larger consultation with various stakeholders and the public at large for fine-tuning before adoption for station redevelopment work by IRSDC. These codes are enabling and operationalising the policy/guidelines issued by MoHUA on TOD and Form Based Codes that will regulate development but are also flexible to encourage design innovation on the railway land to accommodate the city's growth. The Codes encompass Layout Regulating Plans with more information on “Green Area Structure,” “Mobility network” and “Active frontages,” Property Development Cards for development of Sub-Plots, Architectural Design Codes for flexibility in building design, Green Building Codes integrating minimum mandatory green building requirements as per BEE and Codes for Railway Heritage Assets for their conservation. While doing so, codes ensure 24x7 active frontage and eye on the street concept to ensure women and children’s safety.