Heritage street project at Chalai faces further delay

Thiruvananthapuram: The Chalai Heritage Street project will be further delayed as the state govt is yet to take a decision on its remodelling. Despite plans for a high-level meeting led by tourism minister PA Mohamed Riyas last month, the meeting never materialized, and no future discussions have been scheduled.
Initially proposed to follow the model of SM Street in Kozhikode, the project's scope had to be scaled back due to funding constraints. The current plan involves implementing it under the Smart City project with additional support from the tourism department.
MLA Antony Raju, who oversees the project, indicated that while including it under the tourism department would secure more funding, progress has stalled pending further meetings. "I cannot assure now when the meeting will take place. If a concrete decision is made, the work will start immediately. Though the deadline of the Smart City projects will end by March, we will seek an extension considering the significance of the project," Raju said.
Sources close to the project said that Riyas has already recommended Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) to draw up the revised project. The decision by the govt was following the demand from the shop owners of the Chalai market.
Apart from the completion of the works of the eight roads to the main Chalai market road, streetlights will be installed on the main road, and this road will be constructed as a new smart road in the capital.
The deadline for all the Smart City projects is March 31, 2025. The re-modification of the heritage street project will take place without any evacuation of traders from the market. As per the new decision, the priority will be to enable smooth road connectivity to the market by renovating the adjoining roads. The market will have eight access points and have an octagonal shape.
The market, which is 400 years old , has been in need of refurbishment for some time. The project faced delays, causing the funds allocated by the state govt for the 2016-2021 period to lapse due to opposition from the traders in the market.
The entrance to the market from the Gandhi Park side will boast a gateway inspired by the East Fort gate, with a similar gate planned for the Killipalam side as well.