Port Blair City

The Port Blair City Project is a comprehensive urban regeneration initiative envisioned to transform the island capital into a resilient, pedestrian-oriented, and culturally vibrant public realm. Strategically integrating ecological infrastructure, heritage conservation, public mobility, and mixed-use urban development, the project establishes a long-term framework for sustainable growth in one of India’s most environmentally sensitive geographies.

The master vision unfolds through a series of interconnected interventions across the city, including the redevelopment of Ratnam Market, enhancement of Aberdeen Bazaar, creation of the Green Connect ecological corridor, and establishment of the Patriot Trail heritage network. Together, these projects strengthen the relationship between the city’s social life, environmental systems, and historic identity while generating a cohesive urban experience for residents and visitors alike.

At the heart of the proposal is the reactivation of public space as critical civic infrastructure. Ratnam Market is reimagined as a contemporary urban marketplace integrating retail, food streets, local handicrafts, and community-oriented spaces within a climate-responsive mixed-use environment. Simultaneously, the Green Connect initiative links parks, forests, and waterfront edges through shaded trails, ecological restoration, and low-impact landscape interventions that preserve natural drainage systems and enhance biodiversity.

Responding to Port Blair’s warm-humid climate, the planning framework prioritises passive environmental strategies including natural ventilation, shaded public interfaces, porous landscapes, and self-shading built forms. The result is an urban ecosystem that balances environmental stewardship with economic activation and social inclusivity.