Unlock the Land Value of the

Jute Mills of Howrah

West Bengal, India

With Somala Diby

Howrah, a rapidly growing city, and the second largest in West Bengal, is experiencing economic transition. Meanwhile, industrial assets, like jute mills, that once anchored economic prosperity in Howrah, lie underutilized or shuttered. With no plan to revitalize these assets, they lock up a high acreage of land with potentially high social and economic value. We believe Howrah can repurpose these sites to define the course of its economic transition. This proposal supports the adaptive reuse of jute mills by strengthening connectivity to the sites and across the wider neighborhood. It proposes a new master plan to redevelop jute mills in downtown Howrah, with parameters for future programming. Suggestions for transportation and street improvements that will serve as the foundation for the master plan.

 Pedestrians are among the most common road users, but must compete with motorized vehicles, which are competing against each other with very little room. Pedestrians, cyclists, and rickshaws are cut off from the waterfront by industrial uses. Transportation infrastructure for logistics needs investment and modernization. The Ferry system is underutilized and the Jute mills disrupt the street network and lack permeability. Despite its central location, Shibpur lacks incentives and amenities to attract new investment, leading mostly one-way movement out of Howrah and towards Kolkata. Therefore, re-programming the mills is critical to incentivizing investment. This proposal focuses on the adaptive re-use of the Fort William, Bengal and Howrah Jute Mills.