Lack of proper upkeep plagues parks in city

Thiruvananthapuram: Lack of proper maintenance continues to plague the parks which are revamped under various projects in the city.
The visitors at Sree Chitra Tirunal Park, East Fort, have been complaining about defective exercise equipment, a dysfunctional water dispenser, unchecked weed growth and lack of dustbins and toilet facilities.
The park, inaugurated after redevelopment under the Smart City project on August 30 this year, is already reflecting shoddy maintenance in less than six months of being opened to the public.
“I have been frequenting the park with my 10-year-old daughter for a while now. I have to keep a constant eye on her to make sure she does not wander off. The toilets seemed to be locked up for some reason and the water dispenser does not work,” says Vasudevan, a resident in the area.
An LED screen was installed on the video wall two weeks ago, just in time for the public to enjoy the World Cup matches. The park also boasts of an open gym, a children’s play area, a traditional mandapam and a selfie point.
While there is significant footfall during the weekend, the neglected condition of the place seems to be a turn-off for visitors.
Dried leaves and plastic packets adorn the footpath for joggers while the street vendors’ zone constructed inside the park premises has remained shut since the opening.
“The statue of Chitra Tirunal is in a sorry state too. While they have constructed the place beautifully, there are no regular cleaning or maintenance efforts taken by the authorities,” he added.
The other city hangout space newly opened after a facelift is the Captain Lakshmi Park at Kanakakunnu. The sprawling land offering a scenic view of the Museum and Kanakakunnu grounds also lacks dustbins and a functional food kiosk space.
The second phase of the construction work is yet to begin. Several elements like a fountain, an LED screen, a rope bridge and lights are to be incorporated with the current facilities.