Friday, July 19, 2024
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Kerala’s Public Works and Tourism Minister, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, announced the initiation of a significant project aimed at transforming the space under the railway bridge near S.N. College in Kollam city into a vibrant public amenity. This INR 2 crore initiative will develop 70 cents of previously neglected land, creating recreational facilities for youth, children, and elders. The project aligns with the state’s Design Policy, which focuses on making tourism destinations more comfortable and inclusive for all.
The new recreational hub will feature a variety of facilities, including walking tracks, street furniture, food kiosks, courts for games like badminton and basketball, a chess block, a skating area, an open gym, and a yoga-cum-meditation center. The comprehensive design policy aims to create aesthetically appealing, sustainable, and inclusive public spaces.
The project will be inaugurated by Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas on July 20 and is expected to boost Kollam’s presence on the tourism map. Finance Minister K N Balagopal will be the chief guest at the function held at Nehru Park, presided over by M. Noushad, MLA. Other notable attendees include Mayor Prasanna Earnest, MP N.K. Premachandran, Secretary (Tourism) K. Biju, Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd Chairman S.K. Sajeesh, Kollam District Collector Devidas N., Municipal Corporation Councillor A.K. Sawad, Tourism Director Sikha Surendran, and KSTL Managing Director Dr. Manoj Kumar K.
The initiative, run by the District Tourism Promotion Council and Municipal Council along with allied departments, is part of a state-wide effort to convert unused public spaces into people-friendly spots. The maintenance costs for the facilities will be covered by the revenue generated by the project.