The Waterfront and the City Towards the Integration: A Case of Surat City

Abstract

Today, the agenda on the integration of urban waterfront and city are increasingly attracting more attention and becoming the main theme of the city development strategies. Development of a waterfront can be shaped through considerations of different factors which affect in creating the integration between the waterfront and city. Thus, this paper discusses the waterfront and its integration to the city in the context of Surat city, particularly in the present Indian context. The research identifies the factors that establish the interrelationship and recognize how these factors influence the integration between them. These are; physical characteristics include the condition of the edge, water quality, and impact of floods. Other factors are land use, physical, visual and interpretive accessibility; and the built form along the waterfront. This study further investigates the various reasons that affect the factors in establishing the integration between them. This brings forth alarming situations and provides recommendations to the critical issues to be taken care of; to improve and establish the integration between city and waterfront.