After much delay, the actual work on the ground under the city Corporation’s Smart City project will begin on Tuesday, with the Minister for Local Self-Governments A.C. Moideen set to launch the projects.
The construction work of the open gyms, information kiosks, and maintenance work on public toilets in the city are being taken up at this stage, while work order for a few other projects are to be issued soon.
The open gym, which will provide free access to the public to basic fitness equipment, will be coming up at three locations – Gandhi Park, Sree Chithira Thirunal Park and Sreekandeswaram Park. The total cost of the project, which also includes children’s park at these locations, is ₹31 lakh.
Paucity of space has prevented the Corporation from taking it up in more parks within the city. Information kiosks are set to come up at the KSRTC terminal in Thampanoor, at the city Corporation office and inside Gandhi park. An amount of ₹29 lakh have been earmarked for the project. Renovation of six public toilets, located at Thampanoor, Putharikkandam, Vanchiyoor, and at the city Corporation office, are also being taken up. The Smart City project’s website will also be launched on Tuesday.
Tenders of some other works were closed on Monday. These include projects for water kiosks and the rainwater harvesting system at the Government College for Women and inside the city Corporation office premises. Some major works are awaiting technical sanction.
One of these is the multi-level car parking complex, proposed to be located in the Corporation’s current parking space opposite the railway station. Two smart toads, in which all the utility lines will go through underground ducts, have been planned at Chala and Manaveeyam. Along with this, a major project for the development of Manaveeyam Veedhi as an art and cultural space, will be taken up.
The e-autorickshaw project is also about to be launched soon, with the various companies in the fray, set to present their models before experts. An amount of ₹60 lakh has been set aside for this in the first phase. Smart bus shelters are coming up in Ayurveda College junction, Thampanoor, Karamana, Killipalam, Government Women’s College junction, and Panavila.
The solar roofing on top of government buildings, including the Legislative Assembly building, is another project which will be launched in the near future. An amount of ₹5 crore has been set aside for this.