In a major development, the state level steering committee chaired by
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday approved projects worth Rs
1100 crore submitted by the Kochi Corporation under Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme.  The projects which
received approval are the following:

1. Pedestrian Friendly Urban Transport System (Rs 55 cr)

Under
the project, pedestrian amenities including cross-walks and landscaping
of central dividers, traffic islands, construction and renovation of
drains and setting up of foot-bridges . Major roads proposed for
pedestrian facility improvement are Marine Drive – Shanmugam road, Park
Avenue Road and Foreshore road; MG Road, Chittoor Road, Banerji Road,
Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and Durbar Hall Road.

2. Surface Water Drainage Project – East Kochi (Rs 40 crore)

Under
the project,  improvements to stadium link road drain west side,
Chettichira culvert construction at Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Thevara-
Perandoor Canal and construction of side wall of Kannamthodam Thodu – TP
Canal will be undertaken.

3. Upgradation of Surface Water Drainage-West Kochi (Rs 50 cr)

Under
the project, dredging  and reconstruction of side walls would be
carried out on important canals and sub-drains five times a year. The
main canals covered are Kalvathy, Manthra, Rameswaram, Pallichal, Pashni
Thodu, Kallichira, Binny Thodu, KMP Thodu, Vyasapuram Kuttichira Thodu
and Ponnakari canal.

4. Improvement of Inland water transport System

Since
only 40 per cent of the available waterways in Kochi are currently
considered navigable by motor boats, the project proposes dredging of
water ways depending on the need and demand for water transportation. 

5. Renovation of various markets (Rs 32.68 cr)

As
per the project, renovation and construction of buildings spread across
seven markets: Chambakkara, Pachalam, Thoppumpady, Polakandam,
Amaravathy, Koovapadam and Pattalam have been envisaged.

6. Revamping of historic trading area and landscaping of Broadway (Rs 25 cr)

The
project envisages development of Broadway and renovation and
development of Koithara Bazar Yard, Koithara to Broadway, Mather Bazar
Road, Road around Koithara building, the parallel lane to Broadway, lane
behind Thekumbagham Synagogue, Chamber’s Road, Cloth Bazar Road, Market
Road and the Jew Street.

7. Renewal of Inner city core area of Ernakulam and Ernakulam market (Rs 15 cr)

The
project proposes the development of 50-acres of land around Ernakulam
market by retaining its heritage and tradition. The project include
civil works, drainage and water supply, construction of a market square,
providing an approach road from Banjerji Road through Valavi road,
pedestrian way from bridge to market and two bridges at Kuttappayi Road
to Valavi Road.