Chalai heritage redo project to kick-start on Nov 1
The Tourism Department has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the work on beautifying Chalai market.
The Tourism Department has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the work on beautifying Chalai market.
The Tourism Department has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the work on beautifying Chalai market.
Thiruvananthapuram: The historic Chalai market here is all set to get a total makeover similar to the S M Street in Kozhikode. The first phase of the work on turning the area into a heritage attraction will be completed in four months. This phase will cover the vegetable market, amenity centre and the main entrance.
The Chalai heritage street tourism project will be inaugurated by Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran on Kerala Formation Day, November 1, at 8.30 am.
A coordination committee of secretary-level officials will be tasked with monitoring the progress of the project.
A meeting convened by the minister to discuss the project decided to prepare guidelines which were to be followed by each department while implementing the project.
The heritage street project will be realised in coordination with the Smart City project. The Tourism Department has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the work on beautifying Chalai market.
“The stretch from East Fort to Killippalam will be turned into a heritage street, while Aryasala Junction will get a total makeover,” said the Minister.
Art on walls
The walls in the project areas will come alive with paintings depicting the history of Chalai market as well as Travancore. A covered pedestrian path, benches and flower pots will be arranged on the street. An entrance gate modelled on East Fort is planned opposite the Gandhi Park while another entry gate will come up on the route from Killippalam to Chalai.
Uniform display boards and colours for the business establishments are mooted to make the heritage street more attractive.
Another proposal is to install a statue of Raja Kesavadas, who was once the Diwan of Travancore, at Aryasala Junction. Beautification works at the junction include paintings on the walls to provide a traditional feel. In addition, power lines and other cables will be shifted underground.
A project to manage garbage will be implemented along with Suchitwa Mission, City Corporation and TRIDA (Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority). Speed restrictions will be imposed on vehicles along the road when the project is completed. However, all facilities enabling local people as well as tourists to shop at Chalai Bazaar will be in place.
Those who took part in the meeting included V S Sivakumar MLA, City Mayor V K Prasanth, tourism secretary Rani George, architect G Shankar and officials attached to various departments.