Masters Thesis 2017-2019


Governance of An Urban River The case of MITHI, a forgotten river in the city


by Anushri Tiwari
Faculty: Dr. Lalitha Kamath

This dissertation is a study conducted to draw on the Governance of an Urban River, which here is Mithi commonly refer to as a Nallah rather than a river in the city. The study has rigorously and comprehensively looked into the various aspects of urban river which unlike a natural river has a more complex context thus making the act of governance crucial and challenging. The different layers in the system – social, political, economic and ecological all come together to form a narrative for Mithi which here is not a story with a happy end but marked with contestations and struggles where the Forgotten River tries to build an identity in the complex urban space. The Governance plays the key role in allowing and also preventing Mithi to battle the odds of utilitarian values. The perception different agencies and institutions have for the River and their interaction amongst each other results in urban political economy which is based on vested here is the resultant of the vested interest of the few over the grievance of the rest.


Unauthorised Construction In Vasai Virar


by Tiksha Rajendra Sankhe
Faculty: Dr. Lalitha Kamath

The objective of the research is to understand unauthorised construction, it types and factors influencing it based on perspective of different stakeholders, to understand regularisation policy and process that is typically seen as “solution” of unauthorised construction (Process of submitting applications and approval/rejection done in Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, fees of regularisation etc., and to understand how the policy is implemented and used/manipulated by builders, architects and VVCMC (especially Town Planning Department) in the city, to what ends and whose interests it serves.


Developing a Strategy for Capacity Development of Municipal Councillors a Case Study of Nashik Municipal Corporation


by Ajinkya Sudhir Inamdar
Faculty: Dr. Amita Bhide

The objective of the research is to look into the issue of capacity building of municipal councillors by engaging with the multiple stakeholders like municipal officials, NGOs and councillors too. The approach was to understand nuances regarding the concept as well as process of capacity building at the level of a municipal corporation.


Navigating the politics of Redesigned Urban Spaces – A case study of Kolkata’s floating market as result of the changing dynamics between the State and the Street Vendors


by Chandrima Biswas
Faculty: Dr. Ratoola Kundu

Inspired by the floating market in Bangkok, Kolkata received its own version of the floating market on 24th January, 2018 as part of an initiative taken by the Kolkata Municipal Development Authority and the Urban Minister of the Government of West Bengal. To begin with, unlike other such markets, this one did not grow organically but was a result of a project taken up by the KMDA to rehabilitate the hawkers who had been earlier evicted from the now demolished Baishnabghata-Patuli market due to the expansion of the EM Bypass. This study will thus focus of the different politics and negotiations that took place into producing this space, as well as study the space and how it has impacted the lives of various stakeholders.


‘Disabled’ A Case of Budgets for Disable in Pune


by Prachi Mahajan
Faculty: Dr. Amita Bhide

The researcher chose to conduct a research to understand the demand and supply side factors related to why the 3% of the budget reserved for persons with disability in Pune is not being effectively used. Demand side includes parents , persons with disabilities and organizations working for persons with disabilities. Supply side consists of government officials and the allocation and expenditure of the budget.


Socio Spatial Transformations under the Smart City Mission in Gwalior


by Kunal Chaturvedi
Faculty: Dr. Ratoola Kundu

This research paper intends to look at the Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development oriented planning happening under the Smart City Mission at Maharaj Bada, the historical core of Gwalior through the perspective of sociology of planning. The intention of this research is to examine the decision making process that lead to the emergence of this agenda, and to figure out how this process is going to affect the various functions and uses that the space currently has. In the process, questions such as who are the actors in favour of and against this agenda, the reasons behind these stances, and the ways in which these processes are going to affect the common citizens of the city are examined. Based on these observations, it has been argued that the agenda of heritage conservation and tourism development is being pushed for by the local state in face of resistance and disapproval on the ground, and the Smart City Mission is serving as a facilitating framework under which this kind of planning can be practiced.