The elevated transportation corridors have become an essential part of every city. They have a huge role to play in the image creation of every city. While the city is rapidly advancing, do we have a clear vision for the land that will be created below these elevated corridors? Many terminologies have been coined by the international activists to address this high value space in the city centers.

• • “non places”- French anthropologist Marc Auge
  • “under spaces“-  Austrian photographer Gisela Erlacher
  • “el-spaces” – ‘Under the Elevated’ by New york based Design Trust for Public Space and New York Department of Transportation
  • “in- between spaces”- Ar. Tere García Alcaraz based in UK

The maintenance of these underutilized spaces in terms of safety, security, and cleanliness has become a challenge to the city authorities. Through systematic research, the authors have tried to explore the potential possibilities of commercial use of this space under the elevated corridors. Various part of the Delhi Metro and Noida – Greater Noida Metro Line has been used as the sample instrument for the study.

1. 1. How Space Below Metro Line Have been put to Use by people ?

Sl.No	Current uses	Features
1.	Parking	Vast ground space Easy Access from road
2.	Illegal Markets	Linear space within city Easily accessible(both metro and road)
3.	Waste dump yards	Private space(out of vision) Darkness
4.	Bill boards	Direct visibility from road traffic Displays
5.	Open defecation	Comfort of a shaded space Away from the busy streets
6.	Rest Areas/Sleep areas	Comfort of shaded space No disturbance from traffic/people
7.	School for under privileged	Presence of an existing roof & semi enclosed space No disturbance from road traffic/people interaction.
8.	Fruit/Vegetable Markets	Easily accessible for people who come out of Metro stations Shaded space for vendors

2. Volume Analysis

To study the dimension of the space the Noida- Greater Noida Metro line was documented. On a standard Indian Gauge track, the width of the overhead bridge is 9m which is at a height of 9m, in most scenarios. So literally there is an 8.5-9 m clear width of space enclosure (including the pillar), that is running linearly trough the city. The continuity of the space is broken by the metro pillars at every 30 m. This 30 m stretch is mostly unused or partially used at the Noida- Greater Noida line.

2.1  Space Utilisation

Out of the x volume of space that is available between the two pillars, 60% of it can be converted into a built volume and keep the remaining 40% volume as an unbuilt volume. Out of the 60 % of the built volume, 20 % will need to be dedicated to a vertical circulation. The remaining volume available to us would be x cu m, which can be converted into z sq m of usable area on two different levels (including a mezannine).

2.2 Prototyping

This module, arrangement of space between the two metro pillars, can be multiplied to form a continuous spine of functional spaces which can bring in advantage of easy accessibility from the metro stations.

2.3 Alternative Transport Spine

The 40% unbuilt volume can be transformed into an alternative transport spine for example, cycle and battery cars can be incorporated to reduce the congestion on the major network spine and reduce the pressure of last-mile commute.

3. Devising the Typology of the Spaces Below Metro Lines

Sl.No	Typology	Space below Metro Line Nomenclature	Description of Metro Line w.r.t Road	Features/Characteristics of Space Below Metro Line
1	Type 1		Elevated metro line along the road	·       Maximum visibility from road ·       Accessible by both Metro and Road commuters
	1a	Spaces Inbetween	Road on both the sides of the metro line	·       Higher visibility- higher the commercial value ·       Strategic space- can be easily accessed through MRT
	1b	Spaces Aside	Road on one side of the metro line	·       Clear visibility from the opposite street ·       Easily accessible for the road commuters with drive in possibility.
2	Type 2	Spaces Across	Elevated metro line cutting across the road	·       Strategic views from different angles/locations. ·       Frames views and Vistas ·       Semi enclosed shaded areas
3	Type 3	Spaces Around	No road adjacent to the metro line	·       Varying in nature ·       Semi enclosed shaded areas.
		Note: The term road refers to major roads which are more than 12m in width

4. Design Solutions

4.1  Spaces Inbetween

Spaces in Between are the spaces that are right in the middle of the road traffic. These spaces has a higher level of interaction with the road commuters hence these spaces has high commercial values. These spaces have the potentials to be planned as an urban hub or a city centre with the major administrative / government hubs that needs to be highly accessible through the metro spine.

Recommendations: Spaces Inbetweeen

Sl.No	USES	ADVANTAGES
1.	Government Offices & BPOs & NGOs	·       Reduce issues of last mile commute ·       Availability of space in prime locations. ·       Safety and security.
2.	Coworking Spaces
3.	Night Shelters

4.2  Spaces Aside

Spaces Aside are spaces which are created alongside the road with the advantage of having an existing overhead roof structure. These spaces which are suitable for both metro as well as road commuters can be put into multiple uses like stack parking, high street commercials, waiting lounges, bus shelters etc. These spaces having an elaborate frontage, opening into the major road offer them a high visibility and can be suitable rest areas or break out spaces for the road commuters.

Recommendations: Spaces Aside

Sl.No	USES	ADVANTAGES
1.	High Street Commercials/ Food  court/ Restaurents/ Gym/ Public Comfort stations	Frontage and Visibility
		Easy Accessibility & Enclosed feel
		Easily accessible from road
2.	Multi Level Parking	Space available at main city centres
		Easily accessible for Metro Commuters
3.	Children indoor play areas Creches Night Shelters/ Youth Accomodations	Community Spaces

4.3  Spaces Across

Spaces Across are spaces having a direct vision from the road traffic. They have a potential to create views and vistas in the city. And hence need to be treated carefully to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. There can be interactive display boards and product displays to enhance the experience of the road commuters. Waiting hours in the traffic block can be made less stressful by such product displays and interactive boards. Use of vibrant colours and lighting can also improve the ambience of the space.

Recommendations: Spaces Across

Sl.No	USES	ADVANTAGES
1.	Branding Billboards Awareness Displays Interactive displays City live News LED Displays	High value branding possibility
		Live traffic updates Time & News Updates

3.4  Spaces Around

Spaces Around are spaces having a varying nature depending on its locality, for example it can be green areas, vacant land or along a drain. But the kind of cosy space created with existing shade and being away from road traffic, creates a sheltered space by itself. If the spaces can be developed to its suitable potential that can be suitable for social activities like informal day school, small scale industries, artist village etc.

Recommendations: Spaces Around

Sl.No	USES	ADVANTAGES
1.	Community Spaces ·       Activity Center ·       Informal learning Center ·       Meditation / Yoga Centers ·       Artistic Village ·       Street Art center ·       Art installations ·       Exhibition Spaces ·       Urban Public spaces- green lawn + park	Enclosed Envelope with shade and protection from sun & rain
		Stress relief for daily commuters & neighbourhood dwellers

4. Conclusion

The possible usages identified by the author have been listed out and at the same time, there can be other possibilities too, depending on the needs of the locality. The authorities, urban development agencies, and specialized consultancy firms can be deployed to identify and suggest need-based solutions to the ever-evolving cities. While at the same time a standard guideline to identify and develop the underutilized spaces within the cities would create a well-planned city for the future.