Kozhikode Corporation formulates comprehensive plan for city beautification

Kozhikode Corporation's urban beautification plan includes a readers' street, water body development, and city gates to promote culture and community.

The Kozhikode Corporation has made a comprehensive plan for beautifying the city under the State government’s Urban Rejuvenation and Beautification Programme, which Impact Kerala is implementing through a Special Purpose Vehicle.

One of the major projects under the programme is the readers’ street that is to come up at Mananchira, upholding Kozhikode’s status as UNESCO City of Literature.

Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed in his budget speech on Monday, said that suitable public spaces are necessary to promote the reading culture and to encourage social involvement among youngsters.

The 180 metres connecting the gate of Mananchira to the public library will be developed as the Readers’ Street, that will have installations highlighting the reading culture of the city. The budget allocation for the project is ₹2.52 crores.

Developing the premises of Mananchira incorporating Comtrust into a walking zone, while diverting the traffic through Vaikom Mohammed Basheer Road is part of the programme. Meanwhile the area including Town Hall, Art Gallery and Crown Theatre will be a common plaza. Also a recreation zone is planned on the 206 metre stretch from Arayidathupalam to Puthiyara junction on the banks of Conolly Canal.

The Corporation has a grand plan to develop the various water bodies in the city, particularly the ‘Thamarakkulam’ near Varakkal temple. While the pond and the Miyawaki forest in its premises are to be protected, an open gymnasium will be set up on the east side of the pond. Granite ghats will be built for the public to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the pond, besides a walking bridge to the centre. The budget allocation for the project is ₹6.34 crores.

The pond in the premises of the Bilathikulam Temple is also being developed at a cost of ₹70 lakhs. The development includes the walls of the pond will be enriched with mural paintings depicting the history of the temple. Besides developing public spaces for people of all ages, these projects are also meant to ward off antisocial elements.