cbd of calcutta: evolution, growth and nature

Volume 1 | Number 1
C.B.D OF CALCUTTA: EVOLUTION, GROWTH AND NATURE
Dr. Jolly Chattererjee
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Geography, Dwijendralal College
Abstract: Central Business District is the commercial and business centre of a city. It is also the core and
focal point of a city. A city’s C.B.D is usually typified by a concentration of retail and office buildings. It has
an urban density higher than the surrounding districts of the city and often the location of the tallest buildings
in the city. Since the beginning of Calcutta, it was a trading centre of cotton thread- originally controlled by
native Indian traders and it finally attracted English and other European traders. Within 50 years’ time of the
arrival of the English, the present site of central Calcutta, to the north of Fort William, became one of the
busiest centres of business and trade activities. It assumed the name ‘bazaar Kalikata’ of which the nucleus
was Burrabazaar. With time the character of the business hub of the city also changed. Present study is an
attempt to review the evolution as well as growth of the central business area and to assess its nature.
Introduction: By the middle of 18th century, the settlement around old fort had originally taken the
form of a commercial, administrative, residential and military complex within an area of
approximately two hundred and fifty acres. That time Calcutta consisted of the European part
(covering a part of Kalikata village), a residential village (of Gobindapur), a traditional Indian
‘bazaar’ settlement (later on called ‘Burrabazaar’) and a riverine mart with specialising traditions in
cloth trade- known as Sutanuti). The ‘great bazaar’ located about half a mile to the north of old fort
was the most populous zone and in the second half of that century it had become the focus for a
large part of the urban area. Through stages of development, this part had transformed the whole
northern part into the city proper. The great bazaar took an increasingly complex metropolitan
character with a phenomenal rise in masonry construction. Thus emerged the central business area
of the then Calcutta. Today’s central business area has been extended from Burrabazaar and
Dalhousie Square area (near the site of old fort) down through ChandniChowk, Esplanade upto Park
Street in central Calcutta. This section has been identified as the centre for marketing, business and
financial activities as well as dense built up sector.
Attributes of a C.B.D: A central business district is regarded as the hub of a city. It essentially
bears some important characteristic features which are distinct from other areas of the city viz.



Accessibility: The centre of the city should be highly approachable by roads, rail routes
from all peripheral areas. Daily commuting must be made easy for all the people who for
their jobs visit here every day.
Competition for land becomes so acute that the buildings show vertical expansion rather
than horizontal. The high land value can be attributed as a possible effect of keen
competition for such land. Multi-storeyed office buildings are densely packed together
without any appreciable open space in between.
The shape and size of the C.B.D. depends upon the nature and areal extent of the city, its
population and above all land uses. Such as, an elongated city should have a narrow C.B.D.
with more length.
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
Land use character broadly falls under two categories, like- 1) service related offices and
financial institutions on the one hand and 2) retail or wholesale business activities on the
other.
WARD MAP
KOLKATA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
1
2
5
7
9
8
N
4
6
3
12
A
H
A
PA
O
R
24
10
13
19
20 18 17 11
21 24
16 15 14
26
32
22 23 25 27
42 41 39 38 28 29
43
30
31
44 40 37
45
49 36 35
47 48
33
34
46
51 50
55
52 53
141
FORT
56
62 54
57
WILLIAM
RIV
ER
138 137
61
140
135
63
60
75
134
59
139
136 133
76
64
58
77
71
70
66
65
80
69
78
79
74
73 72
67
68
83 84 85
108
86
82
107
91
88 87
90
81
131 132
92 105
89
119 118
93
106
117
129
130 120
94
104
116
95
121
103
128
96
97
109
102
115
127
123
99
98
122
101
126
100
124
125
110
113 112
114
RG
AN
AS
(N
)
H
U
G
LI
C.B.D OF CALCUTTA
24
PA
OLD C.B.D.
RG
AN
AS
(S
111
)
24
Ward Under Study
SCALE
Km. 1
0
1
2
3
4
5 Km.
P
AR
G
AN
AS
(S
)
NEW EXTETENDED
PART OF C.B.D.
.
Early growth history of Calcutta’s C.B.D: The chief commercial concentrationof Calcutta was
located in an area lying along the Hooghly river covering the Wards -17, 19, 24 and 26 of 1961)
where the English merchants landed in a village called Sutanuti. In the 17th century, it was a reputed
cotton yarn market. It was around this nucleus that the central commercial functions of the city
Calcutta evolved. In the north lay the old village of Sutanuti (Ward 19) of Hatkhola. While to the
south lay the other Wards of Jorbagan and Burrabazaar (Ward 19 and 26). Burrabazaar (called
Bazaar Kalikata) lay between the villages Sutanutiin the north and Kalikata in the south. Following
the siltation of river Saraswati and decline of the port Saptagram (Satgaon), the new centre of
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Sutanuti offered fresh opportunities of trade and commerce. Together with the local Bengal
landlords, the trading castes from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan also found place in the
economic life of the then Calcutta. The residences of Jorbagan, after their abandonement, were
converted into ware houses. The Burrabazaar became the centre of Wholesale commerce with a
spurt of immigrant native population and with time residential buildings gave way to the advancing
commercial functions. The land values also started escalating. So, the expansion of this ‘bazaar’ and
allied economic activities became inevitable and scope for employment opportunities increased,
leading to the greater concentration of population. Not only many go-downs and shops came into
existence in the late 19th century with the flourishing commercial activities, but also banks,
mercantile firms and other financial institutions started appearing in the early years of 20th century.
Hatkhola, Burrabazaar, Jorbagan and neighbouring localities exhibited extremely narrow and
congested roads with haphazard growth of masonry buildings without any civic atmosphere.
Total area
Built up area
Forest land
Agricultural
(in Bighas)
land
1717
248
263
484
Kalikata
1692
134
515
510
Sutanuty
1178
51
510
510
Gobindapur
488
400
0
0
Burrabazaar
Source: C.R.Wilson, Early Annals of The English in Bengal, volume-I, pp 284-86
LAND USE PATTERN OF CALCUTTA (1707)
The commercial boom in these bazaar areas, which drew many labour class people towards it, gave
room to the existence of slums because they preferred to live in the vicinity of their workplace.
Primarily it was the crisis of accommodation which accelerated both rent and land value. Besides,
increasingly commercial and administrative activities led to greater occupation of territory in the
Central Business District zone of the city.
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AREAL EXPANSION OF CALCUTTA (BEFORE 19TH CENTURY):
YEAR
1706
1726
1742
1756
1794
TOWN AREA-URBAN
(IN ACRES)
216
332
448
704
3714
TOWN AREA–TOTAL
(IN ACRES)
1692
2350
3229
3229
4997
Extension of the C.B.D. & Population Growth of Calcutta in late 19th Century:
While the Burrabazaar (Bazaar kalikata) area became the nucleus of economic activities by the
middle of 19th century, it formed an Intermediate Town in the proximity of the site of old fort. To the
immediate south of it lay the original village of ‘Kalikata’ which later on was inhabited chiefly by
the English people and transformed into Town Kalikata. It was a European segment of early
Calcutta and was also called European or White Town. To the south of it was constructed the new
fort (Fort William of the present day) during 1757-1781. The residential area around Lal Dighi
(Tank Square) or what was called White Town, was the most urbanised part of Calcutta at that time
in terms of land use and intensity of building construction. The White Town spread up to the modern
China Bazar at its north and east, beyond which existed the bazaar area with its west ward spread up
to the bank of Hooghly River. The southern limit of the White Town reached the creek (presently,
Hastings Street). The opening of 19th century also witnessed the construction of wide streets in
Chowringhee and Esplanade which possessed the new Government Houses and a series of
magnificent buildings. The Indian Town in the in the north and north east exhibited a striking
contrast to the part inhabited by the Europeans Town and the Native Town. In between the White
Town and Native Town other European as well as foreign communities had started settling down
and that particular area was often called as Grey Town. These European residential areas of White
Townof late 18th and 19th century became the extended part of the old and established Central
Business District area of Burrabazaar. After (1858) the fall of East India Company rule in India, the
Writers’ Building of Dalhousie Square (named after the Governor General, Lord Dalhousie) became
the Secretariat of the Viceroy of India. A number of corporations and institutions opened offices and
headquarters in and around the Tank Square. With this, it has become one of the busiest business
centres in Calcutta. Also, majority of the financial and political institutions still remained in its
periphery. After 1930, the area has been renamed as B.B.D Bagh. This area plays the role of modern
Central Business District with eminent financial institutions and business houses.
Urban growth varied markedly across the White Town and Native Town. Urban growth remained
high in a few pockets of the city where basic infrastructure came under excessive strain. If one could
closely examine the ward level decadal population growth of Kolkata, he would easily identify that
the former White Town still recorded moderate growth rate as compare to the Native Town where
population growth and density were very high. Immediately after the Independence all wards of
Kolkata had shown a rapid growth, but the erstwhile White Town and Grey Town (Wards of
Waterloo Street, Park Street and Taltola under extended C.B.D area) recorded moderate to lower
growth as compared to native parts (like, old C.B. D of Burrabazaar Ward) and other parts of the
city.
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Volume 1 | Number 1
MAP OF CALCUTTA, 1850
( THREE DIVISIONS OF THE CITY)
IN
A
DI
N
W
TO
RI
VE
R
N
ED
HO
O
GL
Y
M
ER
INT
N
OW
ET
IAT
N
PE
RO
EU
FORT
WILLIAM
AN
TO
0
MILE
1
N
W
SCALE
REFERENCE - PRADIP SINHA, CALCUTTA, 1978
WARD WISE POPULATION GROWTH OF CALCUTTA – (1872-1921)
Wards
Name
1872-81
1881-91
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
SHAMPOOKUR
KUMARTULI
BARTOOLA
SUKEAS STREET
JORABAGAN
JORASANKO
BURRABAZAR
KALUTOLA
MUCHIPARA
BOWBAZAR
PUDDOPUKUR
WATERLOO ST.
FENWICH
BAZAAR
TALTOLA
KALINGA
PARK STREET
BAMUN BUSTEE
HASTINGS
ENTALLY
BENIAPUKUR
BOLLYGUNJ&
TOLLYGUNJ
-10.51
-220.66
-29.72
-22.68
-144.00
-80.06
-104.69
-61.68
-1.20
-73.24
1.32
12.78
-29.87
-34.82
-65.74
79.24
-60.70
-6.64
-11.29
-61.84
-112.11
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
293.71
36.29
259.06
427.08
269.10
269.10
-5.92
73.07
135.17
48.13
11.94
25.41
95.30
18911901
271.17
133.05
378.39
206.90
177.93
272.01
529.30
243.97
296.01
193.40
351.57
62.37
100.19
1901-1
1
131.15
96.77
87.50
144.60
62.06
123.16
-34.17
-96.18
-13.30
-75.34
67.93
9041.89
-88.82
74.85
27.55
10191.78
150.90
8.81
-37.60
80.80
-325.50
101.28
83.79
89.17
-887.71
-81.76
120.63
116.39
-70.05
-249.31
-57.67
-821.01
218.31
118.05
103.74
269.48
322.51
186.17
228.01
7013.69
225.11
191.51
-3.88
-321.51
-133.55
-427.03
-62.34
172.06
343.20
468.45
-13.95
31.80
-286.74
7.04
-228.29
56.77
-61.72
272.88
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1911-21
Volume 1 | Number 1
22
23
24
25
BHOWANIPORE
ALIPORE
EKBALPORE
WATGUNJ
21.43
-277.20
-109.80
150.06
120.76
101.65
-909.33
-38.93
165.53
196.84
13086.05
413.11
-907.96
114.35
12.08
155.28
11558.11
123.58
436.74
-212.92
Not only B.B.D Bagh area, but the entire stretch of Chowringhee (presently, Jawaharlal Nehru
Road) down to the Park Street and A.J.C Bose Road started blooming as pseudo commercial centres
attracting increasingly large number of retail shops, hotels and banking houses. This locational
importance started gaining more prominence only with time and has become an extended part of
the original Central Business District (comprising Burrabazaar and B.B.D Bagh) in the recent
history, only after mid twentieth century.
Present Nature of Calcutta’s C.B.D: C.B.D of Calcutta reveals an overlapping landscape, both
indigenous and foreign. The old and established Central Business District comprising Burrabazaar
area (present Ward 21, 22, 45 etc.), Dalhousie Square (B.B.D Bagh) and adjacent Chandni Chowk
area contain large number of old structures. This area represents a fusion of European and native
architecture and culture. Still today, the C.B.D of Calcutta reveals an overlapping landscape with
mixed land use pattern. The erstwhile part of Native Town still shows an admixture of commercial,
industrial and residential land use. The Former White Town of the southern peripheral zone of
Dalhousie Square shows large open spaces with historical buildings, administrative offices and
tourist spots. Due to higher land value, no vacant land is found except a few organised open spaces
in the European portion are found. Bulk of the buildings in Burrabazaar and on Strand Road (along
Hooghly River) is in rundown condition with some of these serving as Kolkata Port Trust or other
ware houses. The roads are too narrow in the northern segment of C.B.D, often serpentine, with
overly congested fashion that the buildings seem to be densely packed on either side. Pedestrian
traffic is of largest volume with encroachment by vendors. The buildings have developed in an
unplanned manner with minimum distance from one another. Existence of wholesale market centres
and mixed residential buildings often create catastrophe like outbreak of fire, collapse of old
buildings etc. Some of the residential houses, found in Burrabazaar, are inhabited by non-Bengali
traders and business communities at their upper storeys. Southern segment of old C.B.D. is more
open in terms of house density and width of roads with proper lay out.
Congested Roads in Old C.B.D (in North)
Organised Open Space in Southern Segment
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Newly established business centres along J. L. Nehru Road, Park Street and A. J. C. Bose
Road (present Ward 46 and 63 for the most part) are more open in contrast to its old counterpart
with better housing conditions, organised open spaces and broader roads. Further, encroachment on
roads by the vendors is occasional and apparently there is less pedestrian traffic during business
hours.
Conclusion: The Central Business District exerts immense influence on the economy of a city. It is
the life blood of any city that evolves and grows like an organism. The existence and prosperity of
Calcutta and its economic status have been largely determined by the nature of this C.B.D. So, from
the early stages of growth of Calcutta- Burrabazaar area formed the focal point, centring which grew
the economic prosperity of Calcutta. Presently, a secondary business district has been formed further
south, to avert the over congestion, improve the situation and to decentralise certain functions old
C.B.D. Government or other Planning Organisations have already undertaken certain urban renewal
schemes and rehabilitation programmes to improve the conditions at old C.B.D. Presently, Satellite
Towns of Bidhannagar- Newtown are offering enough opportunity for Calcutta’s urban and
economic future.
References:






Ghosh, Murari et. al. (1972): A Study in Urban Growth Dynamics
Mukherjee, Mala: Urban Growth and Spatial transformation of Kolkata Metropolis: A
Continuation of Colonial Legacy, ARPN Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 2, 2012
Mitra, Manimanjari (1990): Calcuttain the 20th century- An Urban Disaster
Sinha, Pradip (1978): Calcutta in Urban History
URL 1: http://www.quora.com/which-areas-comprise-thekolkata CBD
URL2:www.yourarticlelibrary.com/…/central-business-district-in: Central Business District
in India: Characteristics, Hierarchical Order and Problems by S. Sharma
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