The Hindu 11.12.2013
D-Day for key infrastructure projects of city corporation
Four major urban infrastructure projects of Kochi Corporation, to be implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), will come up for scrutiny on Wednesday.
The State-level Steering Committee of the Mission will evaluate the three new urban infrastructure projects namely the public market upgradation programme (Rs.32.68 crore), pedestrian-friendly urban transport scheme (Rs.55 crore) and renewal of inner core area of Ernakulam market (Rs.15 crore). Two projects for alleviating the flooding in central city (Rs.40 crore) and West Kochi (Rs.60 crore) areas too would be presented before the panel. These projects are being proposed to be implemented under the transition phase of the Mission.
The projects would be submitted for funding after obtaining the clearance of the State Committee. Once approved, the local body would get three years for implementing the centrally-supported projects, said Tony Chammany, Kochi Mayor.
The Mayor would attend the Steering Committee meeting to be held in Thiruvananthapuram.
The ongoing schemes, which may not be over within the March 2014 deadline of the Mission, too would be transferred to the transition stage. This would give a leeway of three years for the city to implement them, Mr. Chammany said.
The earlier-sanctioned Ernakulam Market renovation and Broadway heritage project was bifurcated and repackaged and showcased as two different projects.
‘Drop projects’
Meanwhile, the local body has been asked to drop some of the earlier announced projects including the Sewerage Scheme for the Central Area for want of time and resources. The Steering Committee is of the view that the local body should consider the project for the next phase of the Mission projects.
Under the public market renovation project, the aged structures of seven markets in Kochi would be reconstructed. The projects include the renovation of the existing fish and mutton market building and construction of auction hall, toilet block and an effluent treatment plant at Champakkara Market, construction of market building for vending fish, beef and mutton at Pachalam Market.
Similar projects will be implemented at Thoppumpady, Polakandam, Amaravathi, Koovappadam and Pattalam markets.
The local body pitched for these projects as it did not involve any dislocation of people and property and hence no rehabilitation and resettlement components were involved.
The civic authorities are toying with the idea of preparing a detailed project report for the proposal for improving the inland water ways system of Kochi. Efforts are on to make funds available for the project during the transition phase itself, according to civic authorities.
