The Hindu 20.04.2010
CMC to beautify Madikeri
Staff Correspondent
| A sum of Rs. 40 lakh set aside to develop parks in the city |
Work on Mahatma Gandhi Road has begun
Memorial to Guddemane Appaiah Gowda to be built soon
Set for a makeover: The neglected CMC park where the Guddemane Appaiah Gowda memorial is scheduled to come up near Sudarshan Circle in Madikeri.
Madikeri: The Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) is initiating measures to beautify the city, with an emphasis on developing parks, CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao has said.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Monday, Mr. Rao said that the CMC has set aside a sum of Rs. 40 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Programme towards developing parks in the city.
Construction of a memorial to the late freedom fighter Guddemane Appaiah Gowda in the park near Sudarshan Circle (Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle) is expected to start soon, he said.
Another park, with a fountain, gardens and walkways is being developed within the CMC premises, at a cost of Rs. 6.50 lakh, he said. Funds for the project were obtained from the 12th Finance Commission’s untied grants, Mr. Rao said.
Nehru Mantap would be developed into a popular picnic spot, Mr. Rao said. He added that a resort chain with property in the area had shown interest in developing the Nehru Mantap area.
The work on Mahatma Gandhi Road (Raja Seat Road) began on Monday, president of the CMC Works Committee T.S. Prakash said. Building of culverts, asphalting of the road till the milk booth near Vartha Bhavan and planting of ornamental shrubs would be taken up, he said. There was a proposal to invite private parties to install and maintain advertisements along Mahatma Gandhi Road, up to Raja Seat, on a build, own, operate and transfer basis, Mr. Rao said.
As many as 11 mini-mast lamps would be installed in the city at important intersections, he said. Signboards indicating names of the localities would be put up.
Mr. Rao announced that there was a proposal to construct three modern bus shelters in the city.
A proposal to install solar lamps in slums was also being considered, he added.
