THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon the residents of Thiruvananthapuram will get a feel of walking through the annals of time when they step into the centuries old Chala market as the Tourism department has decided to develop a heritage street in Chala and nearby areas. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the project would do away the disorderly characteristic of the street and develop a heritage street from East Fort to Killippalam junction. The heritage street would be developed in three phases and Habitat Group has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report in two months.
The heritage street will sport 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 also be erected. Further, the Aryshala junction would be developed and conserved without losing its antiquity, the minister said.
Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said the heritage buildings would be conserved as part of the project and the stamp of the traditional architecture of Kerala would be maintained at the heritage street. The parking issues and waste disposal in the market and nearby areas would be addressed with the cooperation of civic body, Suchitwa Mission and Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA).The department hopes to give a peep into the history of ancient Chala market, the minister said. It is believed Raja Kesavadas, Diwan of erstwhile Travancore under Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma, established the market in the late 18th century.
● Habitat Group has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report in two months
● The Project would be implemented in three phases
● As part of the project, vehicle parking in the nerve centre of the old market would be banned
● A new parking facility and waste disposal units would be set up in association with various depts
● Painted walls along both sides of the street with characters and incidents from the history, walkway along the street with roof over head, resting benches at vantage points, decorated street with same colour of paint, flowering plants to be planted along the streets, conserved heritage buildings, heritage street logo imprinted name boards of shops to be placed in a row, would be some of the attractions of the project
● Two traditional arch gates would be set up, one at the opposite of the Gandhi Park from where the Chala street begins and the other at Killippalam.
● Aryshala junction would be developed and conserved as part of the project without losing its antiquity