Technopark stretch hot favourite for day-night zone

Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation made a tentative list of five stretches for day and night live vending zones; the project which was approved by state cabinet last week.
Kazhakootam–Technopark, Karamana–Killipaalam, Kowdiar–Kuravankonam, Poojapura–Kunchalumoodu and Vellayambalam–Sasthamangalam stretches are being considered for the vending zones.
A meeting was held in corporation main office on Wednesday and a steering committee meeting was also convened by city corporation. The shortlist prepared by the meeting will be presented in the council meeting scheduled to be held in the first week of March.
An inter-departmental meeting comprising various officials was also held recently. The local self-government department (LSGD) issued a directive to city corporation on Thursday to select the suitable spots for day and night live vending zones within 10 days.
The corporation will also have to allot zones for food trucks and vendors with FSSA license to function from 10pm to 5am on Friday and Saturday.
While the civic body has made an initial list, it has to weigh a few factors which should align with the criteria laid down by LSGD.
LSGD in its order has said that proposed zones should have sufficient parking facilities, facilities like footpath and cycle path. Special focus will be on implementation of green protocol and sanitation.
The police and security staff will oversee the security arrangements in live vending zones.
LED streetlights and free WiFi will be other requirements at live vending zones. While corporation plans to co-ordinate with police regarding parking and security arrangements, the other aspects like path for cycling, facilities like free WiFi will have to be considered by city corporation.
The initial list has been prepared mainly considering stretches which are already abuzz with some activity late into the night. The Kazhakkoottam–Technopark stretch is high on the list, as many of the shops especially eateries are open during late hours at night along this stretch.
The ongoing flyover works and resultant traffic regulations in place at Kazhakkoottam is also being taken into account by corporation while finalizing the stretch from Technopark to Kazhakootam for day and night live vending zone.
The project conceived by the state government aims at a live commercial zone in addition to eateries.
The state government is planning to launch the pilot scheme in the capital by March 31 and LSGD, which is co-ordinating the project, is keen on getting the live vending zones functional in the city even before March 31 so that it could be emulated in other cities in the state.
The government aims to implement the project with various objectives; the primary one being promotion of tourism. The government has assessed that it is important to have live and secure streets and vending zones for the promotion of tourism in the state. Besides, it is expected to create new employment opportunities not just for hoteliers but for entertainment sector and small-scale traders.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has the other day emphasized the need to encourage part-time jobs among students and has mooted change in working hours in educational institutions.