Organize and Declutter

Redevelopment of central vista avenue is part of a larger central vista development project to unify and concentrate Government infrastructure for an ease of Governance, optimize the land use and upgrade the infrastructure to state of the art. It shall include enhancement of urban amenities, safe pedestrian pathways, places to gather, enhance urban infrastructure of waterways, pedestrian bridges, fountains, roads, parking, seating areas, public vending plazas, toilets, eateries, planting, gardens and upgradation of the lighting, surveillance, public announcement, festive lighting and power provisions, republic day parade infrastructure and a better operation and maintenance facilities for all of the above. One of our main role has been to consolidate multiple services in to urban light poles, create a distinct hierarchy and character for the area and provide uplift the natural and architectural assets for a safe and convivial urban gathering place.

Conserve the Heritage

The area falls under heritage area and hence no major aesthetic change in terms of pole design or locations were possible or acceptable to the design approval committee. Their approach has been very practical and conservative. The facility has been originally planned by the British architect and over the period of times various planners have upgraded it in piecemeal as and when the need be. Since it has a strong connection with the independence of India it is considered as a heritage site and we had to be very restrained and discreet in our approach.

Before Development there had been issue of less light levels, vandalized and makeshift upgradation of the light poles, no common language of new poles that can call it a single campus.

India has a very diversely educated and cultural public who all come to this place to public space by night. So, infrastructure must be very rigid. The place in pride of India as every year the republic day parade takes place here and so safety is also a big concern and based on our survey we felt that this project shall avoid recessed ground, wall or low height easily accessible and hidden luminaire which are difficult to refit after annual inspection from the security official drill.

A practical design approach

Our lighting master plan help establish visual hierarchy through color temperature and brightness. The lighting concept mainly focuses on use of three distinct pole types for the three main axis. Old Rajpath will have refurbished and replicas of the heritage luminaires in Cast Iron to respect the heritage nature of the road. Canal front Will have contemporary style light columns with minimal cylindrical look again with all services to match with the newly added public promenade around refurbished canals and bridges and fountains. Third axis which passed through the parking area axis which will have modern style luminaires to match with the modern architecture around. Trees will be lit along the Old Rajpath road using the Post top adjustable focus lights mounted on a custom pole which can accommodate several services and will be also made of cast iron base and GI pole. These are aligned to the tree line to respect the historic perspective of Old Rajpath street. All lights are mounted on pole at just above the human reach and were planned to aim sideways focusing towards the trees in first and second row or ground so that we can avoid upward light pollution and reduce glare for the passerby. All pole’s heights have been uniformly kept matching to the height of the heritage pole’s height. All new poles have been custom designed to incorporate wireless control system, video surveillance tools, public announcements speakers, wi-fi, flag, Festive accent element and power provisions etc to accommodate any future requirement of integration and make the infrastructure look very tidy. This we hope that can avoid the usual visual clutter of wires and clamps of various systems and equipment’s of various colour on the pole that we usually find in our cities which grow organically.

There has been tunnels and subterranean amenity blocks which have been lit with mostly surface ceiling or wall niche mounted precise optic lights to provide light without glare and highlight the make architecture and landscape elements for a sense of direction and gathering place. Bridges are light with screen integrated light and under deck lights.

The whole lighting system is on automation with two way communication for on demand supply, control and ease of maintenance and response to various functions that takes place over the night, week, season and festivals.

In general, the approach to urban lighting addresses concern for sustainability, heritage, response to built-environment and public function, consolidation of various services, making space for new public infrastructure and ease of maintenance and service on demand.