THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation is planning to implement a long term extended project with the Tourism Department’s Heritage Street Project at Chalai. This is in line with the civic bodies Smart City project. In a meeting chaired by Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Wednesday, it was decided that the first phase of the Chalai market heritage street project will be completed within four months.
The Smart City project mainly focuses on areas that falls around Chalai market including Attakulangara.
“The project includes solid-waste management, multi-level parking facility, warehousing complex, junction improvement plan and public utility ducting. The project is now at its initial phase. The DPR is being prepared for the project. The expected fund for the project is around 40 to 50 crore,” said Sanoop Gopalakrishnan, general manager, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram.
Tourism Heritage Street project
The first phase of the project will include a vegetable market, amenity centre, and the main gate. The construction work of the first phase will be inaugurated by the Tourism minister at a function scheduled to be held on November 1. The Tourism department has allocated Rs 10 crore for the heritage street. A secretary-level coordination committee which will include members from various departments will monitor the project. In the meeting it was decided to prepare a document laying out the works to be taken up by each department.
The project is to do away the disorganised characteristic of the street and develop a heritage street from East Fort to Killippalam junction. The heritage street will be developed in three phases.
The project envisages to display the ancient history of Chala through a series of paintings on the compound walls. It will also have walkways with a traditional roof, resting benches and flowering plants along the street.
Two traditional arch gates, one opposite to the Gandhi Park from where the street begins and the other at Killippalam, will be erected. A statue of former Travancore Diwan Raja Kesavadas will be installed at the Aryasala junction. The Tourism department has allocated Rs 10 crore for the heritage street.
Vehicular traffic at Chala will be regulated with the implementation of the project. The parking issues and waste disposal in the market and nearby areas will be addressed with the cooperation of civic body, Suchitwa Mission and Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA).