TRANSIT NODES TO URBAN PLACES : THE PLACE-MAKING STRATEGY OF SINGAPORE MRT STATIONS AS A CASE ANALYSIS FOR BANGALORE METRO STATIONS

Abstract

The transit systems have an unmatched effect on shaping the urban form of a city .Since a bulk of people move across this point everyday, the transit stations have become the strategic point of contact between an urban structure and transport system. The objective of the research is to analyze the characteristics of Mass Rapid Transit stations, which have transformed from being nodes in the transportation network, to places in the urban fabric, effectively contributing to the development of a successful urban form. The scope of the research is limited to the study of the spatial characteristics of Mass Rapid Transit stations. The factors related to government policies and land economics shaping the urban form at the transit stations is out of scope of this dissertation. The case study of Singapore Mass Rapid transit system and its urban spatial effect is chosen as a superlative study to conduct the qualitative analysis of the physical form, with respect to its the urban structure, connectivity, and the urban environment of different station areas. The research attempts to assess the significance of spatial design strategies employed in station areas for the successful transformation from transit nodes to urban places. Based on the findings of Singapore Mass rapid transit stations, a set of recommendations is formulated for the comparable parallel stations in the context of Bangalore city where the development of a new rapid rail system is at an advanced stage. An attempt is made to suggest the development of the node - place character of the future station areas, through an emphasis on urban design principles.