Gandhinagar in Gujarat is installing sewer covers featuring a sectoral map of the city- a thoughtful touch reminiscent of Chandigarh’s iconic drain covers. A small yet significant step in celebrating urban identity through design. The city is one of the planned cities in India and was designed by chief architect H.K. Mewada and his assistant Prakash M Apte. The city was developed in the 1960s.
Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC)’s initiative to install sewer covers featuring the city’s sectoral map is a thoughtful nod to urban design. Historically, manhole covers have transcended their utilitarian purpose, evolving into canvases that reflect a city’s identity and heritage.
Le Corbusier, 1887 – 1965 | Chandigarh Manhole Cover
In the 1950s, renowned architect Le Corbusier designed cast iron manhole covers for Chandigarh, embedding the city’s grid layout onto them. These covers not only served functional purposes but also symbolized the city’s modernist vision.
Similarly, Japan has embraced decorative manhole covers since the 1980s, transforming them into public art pieces that showcase local culture, landmarks, and traditions. This practice has become so popular that it attracts tourism and fosters community pride.
By incorporating sectoral maps into sewer covers, Gandhinagar is not only enhancing its urban aesthetics but also celebrating its unique cityscape, fostering a sense of place and community among its residents.
The Knowledge Hub in Gandhinagar on the Way to GIFT City
GMC is developing a vibrant, accessible and safe precinct for students of several reputed educational and training institutes in Raysan, Gandhinagar under its initiative Knowledge Hub. These institutes include the Pandit Deendayal Energy Institute, Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management, Gujarat National Law University, and Institute for Seismological Research among others.
The project scope includes an urban design plan for the precinct that includes street design, wayfinding and signage system, campus integration, pedestrian access to various schools and departments, and connectivity to the Gujarat metro station. The same stretch leads to GIFT City, a global financial hub developed in Gandhinagar.
The Urban Lab develops this project along with the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA).
