India's cities are transforming their waterfronts

Cities have had an intimate relationship with rivers throughout history, shaping their development, prosperity, and identity. Unfortunately, over the past several decades, the narrative surrounding rivers and lakes in India has been dominated by tales of pollution and degradation.

- Manoj Sharma

The tide, however, finally seems to be changing, with cities across the country, such as Kota, Indore, and Coimbatore, rediscovering the potential of their waterfronts, and transforming them into vibrant public spaces that blend business, culture, and recreation. Others, such as Mangaluru and Pune, are currently in the process of developing their waterfronts.

Kota's Chambal riverfront, inaugurated in September 2023, has transformed a once-neglected 6-km stretch into a much sought-after city attraction. The 1,400 crore project developed by the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) features 27 theme-based ghats, each highlighting a facet of Indian cultural heritage. For example, Geeta Ghat has all 700 verses of the 18 Gita chapters engraved on a marble plaque; while the Rajputana Ghat represents architecture from different regions of Rajasthan.

"Over the decades, the Chambal river had been reduced to a garbage-filled backyard. Now, it has become the city's beautiful face. This is the first heritage waterfront of its kind in the country representing India's culture and spiritual traditions," said Anoop Bartaria, the architect for the project.

Indeed, the riverfront has quickly become a popular attraction for both locals and tourists, with approximately 10,000 people visiting it daily, officials said (while entry is complimentary for Kota residents, tourists are required to pay an entry fee of ₹200).

Digvijay Singh, CEO of Indore Smart City, which has developed a 3.3-km riverfront along the Kahn river, said, "One of the most important achievements is that the riverfront has reconnected the city's residents to the river. Besides, there has been at least a 40% increase in property prices in the area."

A history of riverfront transformation