The Times of India            12.12.2013

State nod for JNNURM projects worth Rs 1,100 crore

KOCHI: The state-level steering committee, headed by chief minister Oommen Chandy, approved projects worth Rs 1,100-crore on Wednesday to avail funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Mayor Tony Chammany said, "Projects can be completed on time as they don't require land acquisition if approval is given. The projects are likely to be submitted by the end of December for central government approval."

The seven projects submitted by Kochi corporation include pedestrian-friendly urban transport system for eight city roads, surface water drainage system in east Kochi, betterment of surface water drainage in west Kochi, improvement of inland water transport system, urban infrastructure development, project to revamp Broadway and the renewal of Ernakulam market's core area.

The Rs 55.1-crore project for pedestrian-friendly urban transport system comprises pedestrian walkways, crosswalk facilities, landscaping of central dividers and traffic islands as well as the construction of foot overbridge at three locations.

Roads where pedestrian friendly facility will be improved are: Shanmugham Road, Park Avenue Road, Foreshore Road, MG Road, Chittoor Road, Banerjee Road, Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and Durbar Hall Road.

The Rs 40-crore project for surface water drainage in east Kochi includes upgradation of drainage along the west side of Stadium Link Road, construction of culverts on Subhash Chandra Bose Road and Thevara-Perandoor Canal. West Kochi canals will be improved through a Rs 50-crore project. The Rs 32.68-crore project for urban infrastructure development will develop Chambakkara, Pachalam, Thoppumpady, Polakandam, Amaravathy, Koovapadam and Pattalam markets. While the estimated cost of Broadway's renovation project is Rs 25 crore, Rs 15 crore has been set aside for the renovation of Ernakulam market zone.

Kochi's corporation said that the committee has also approved a Rs 20-crore project to install energy efficient lights in the city. With the implementation of the project, all sodium vapour lamps in the city will be replaced by energy efficient lights, said corporation authorities.