I too have my doubts if "mixed use" urban model will be of help to Bangalore today. I am guessing one driver behind mixed use was current chaotic state of commute time traffic. Planners may have argued that mixed use will encourage "work, live and shop in same area" style of living. And that in turn would shorten average commute distance for Bangaloreans. Other driver for mixed use would have the current hopeless state of area planning and bylaws enforcement by BBMP. City would anyway struggle to enforce separate residential and commercial zones, so why not promote mixed-use and eliminate the need for zone enforcements. If above two were factors that leading our planners to mixed-use, then have chosen to act on symptoms, and shown helplessness that root causes (for commute time traffic chaos, and BBMP's pathetic enforcement record) can NOT be addressed. I see the merits of "mixed use", but those would work well for our city if following can be guaranteed. 1) high profile employers are spread evenly through the city. Job/salary is a bigger criterion for people than commute, so if all good jobs continue to be in Domlur and Elec city (just using as examples), mixed use would only create 2 or 3 super dense job hubs 2) There is separate traffic corridor for moving people over long distances. This would be needed as mixed-use hubs will place a lot of local traffic and parking on regular roads (as is the case in most of Bangalore today - you struggle to pass through mixed-use areas). Also, mixed zone would require better enforcement of living and developmental norms (noise, spaces, air). You wouldn't want a noisy generator to show up in the building next to your residence. Also, what type of industries would be allowed in mixed-use areas? It/Services only, or noisier more polluting, more raw material centric (picture a lot of goods movement) types as well? Basically, using mixed-use as a way to work around BBMP's sad record of planning and enforcement isn't a good idea. mixed-use or single-use (zones), we will fail unless BBMP is made to tighten up.

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To have a good feel of BIA we need to have these rules in place....

• we need to keep the airport clean, have good greenery in and out of airport. There should be trees planted on both sides of the road.
• There should be no commercial establishment near the airport zone  which cause traffic jams, people stopping for eating and other stuff.
• There should be no five star hotels or any boarding and lodging facilties since none of the travellers stay near airport and travel towards the city for work.
• The airport should be litter free and the most important thing about the toilet ventilation. I had watched in TV news channel that a passenger complaining about the foul smell in the toilet of HAL airport.
• We need to have prepaid travel system in place so that none of our guests to our country are cheated.
• There should be a divider separating the roads so that it doesnt cause traffic jams.
• Proper street light should be there. ( see the ring road near our Airport. its so dark.)
• Proper signages should be there.

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Response to mized zoning by silkboard

the so called 'merits' of mixed zone is illusory & short lived. the adoption of mized zoning would result in utter chaos and loss of greenery. it will retard the devloopment & transformation of Bangalore to Singapore.

Response to BIA by Pradeep

the suggestions of Pradeep for enhancing the standard of BIA is most apt & welcome

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Today when we struggle to prevent shops from showing up on every other road inside residential zones, mixed zone without enforcements will lead to utter chaos. BBMP and us - both need to first prove that we can follow community construction and development norms. Or else, the benefits of mixed zones can't be realized. The point about mixed zone drastically reducing commute isn't true, many prefer better jobs to shorter commute (ask those who spend 2 hrs going to E-city everyday). But mixed zone would reduce the numbers that drive to shops. Those folks would walk instead. But where exactly would they walk? How are Bangalore's pavements? Especially in the commercial areas, how much of pavement area is encroached by retailers and vendors? Mixed zone coupled with high FAR seems like a dangerous proposition for Bangalore/BBMP. Again, thats not because the model isn't good, or doesn't fit us culturally, its because BBMP has a poor track record recently of managing growth and enforcing norms.

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I am not against mixed use zones as a concept. In fact I would prefer mixed use if it is done with sufficient insight and to the best interest of citizens. (It is anybody's guess as to how realistic my expectation is but let me elucidate my etopian thoughts). A lot of apartment complexes in Singapore have shops and food courts in their ground floors. Similarly, in UK you can find a lot of areas with mixed commercial and residential usage. But the critical aspect here is that the people in charge of allotting permissions need to be careful. For example as idontspam says above, a kirana store or a HOPCOMS would surely be welcome whereas supermarkets and car showrooms need to be kept at bay. And of course you have to allow for suitable parking or banning of motorised traffic altogether. That is how it is done in UK/Singapore and it is indeed beneficial. -Shastri

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