Railway Colony Redevelopment, Shantipuram

The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) develops railway land that is not needed for operations, to earn revenue for Indian Railways. In July 2020 it appointed ARCH-EN DESIGN as architectural and real estate consultant for the redevelopment of part of the Shantipuram railway colony in Alambagh, Lucknow. The site, of about 73.6 acres by survey, lies on Talkatora Marg near the junction with Kanpur Road, 600 metres from Alambagh metro station and about 4 kilometres from Charbagh.

Quarters first

About a fifth of the land is set aside to rebuild the colony. The proposal replaces the old quarters with 828 new homes for railway staff, 712 of Type II, 76 of Type III and 40 of Type IV, in 21 towers of eight to ten floors over stilts, with a total built-up area of about 87,000 square metres.

Land that pays for it

The rest of the land is opened for lease. A commercial pocket of about 19,000 square metres carries shops and offices, and a group housing pocket of about 76,000 square metres carries some 890 two-bedroom and 286 three-bedroom flats, with parks and convenience shops. At least 15 per cent of the residential land and 10 per cent of the commercial land is kept green. A further area of about 76,500 square metres is held for a second phase.

The first stage of the work, submitted in January 2021, covered the survey of the site, the development control regulations and the change of land use the plan needs, real estate trends and land values, and a financial analysis of the mix. It recommends an integrated, mixed-use development of retail, offices and affordable homes.