Dumas Walkway

Background and Context

A Historical place of surat "Dumas" Dwelles on confluence of river tapi and Arabian Sea. this is the only place for recreation and enjoyment and connect with nature for the people of surat and surrounding villages and cities. 29th february marks an important date in the history of surat city as the birth anniversary of the 4th prime minister of India and Indian independence activist- shri Morarji Desai. The Dumas project honours the presence of shri Morarji Desai's statue and celebrates his contribution and fortunate association with Surat City. The project of Walkway at Dumas was conceived as a street of celebrating the identity of historic landmark of Surat city.

The street offers leisure, recreation, play and sport through a series of metaphoric urban installations which are of participatory nature. The street celebrates culture through colourful urban design. The project has brought on the surface the 'Image of the city' and re-proliferated amongst people the sense of association and belonging to the place using 'City Branding' as a tool.

Scope of Implementation

The Vibrant Walkway at Dumas, Surat was completed in a lower budget of approximately INR 3.88 CR. It not just promotes the city and its culture, it also promotes pedestrianization. This in turn helps in lowering the carbon footprint which is usually a major issue of any public/tourist place.

Innovative Characteristics of the Project

The project is a wholesome gateway from the busy city life and sojourning recreation with following major components playing their part:

Gate way in the memory of lost shores, the "gate way" is a tributing gate way and entry to the vibrant walkway.
I love surat -it is our optimistic take on using city branding as a tool to boast up the belonginess between city and citizens.
Col-oars - a colourfully celebrative installation of colourful oars for people to meander around.
The folded-unfolded - motion offering public sculpture responsive to the needs of the children.
The Swinging net - inspired from fishing nets and hammocks this playful place to rest.

Project Benefits / Expected Impact

The ‘soul’ of the project being reviving the lost place, lost image and lost association between people and Dumas. The Urban Design of the vibrant walkway had conscious and thoughtful decisions and interventions to mitigate contextual challenges like vandalism, structural safety and future planning prospects. With the very vibrant looking scales up interventions in the middle of the private road, had its own challenges which were a threat to address for the design and execution team.
But the dynamic forms, playful colours, interactive nature and relativity has brought life to public recreation at Dumas. People sit, play, take selfies and interact all along the series of thematic installation inserts.

SMC is always for the Citizens health.
Refreshment and healthy walkway around 560 mt long from Dumas langar to Gate way to the Sea.
No vehicle operation in this portion then reduction in pollution.
"Chartered Public Sharing" /"public Bicycle Service”.
Café block at the “Gate way to The Sea”.
Surat’s first interactive fountain

Replicability / Scalability of the Project

"THE VIBRANT WALKWAY AT DUMAS, SURAT" Since Dumas has been a weekend getaway destination, the project called for proposing activities and involvement for the locals in order to review its recreational importance.

This proposal could be made into a prototype for it to be easily replicated and / or scaled with respect to the context it is put in. 'The Vibrant Walkway' brings a whole new dimension to the aspect of pedestrianization and celebrates the streets. It brings back the lost association between the people and the place they belong to.

Impact Coverage / Beneficiaries

560 mt long ad 4.50 mt wide cultural pathway with different 11 types cultural sculpture.