Deccan Chronicle 08.01.2014
Neglected Kochi parks to turn ‘green spots’ thanks to Metro
Kochi: Rusted
slides, swings with grass and plastic wastes eating into walkways. This
image of the small parks in the city will change soon. Thanks to the
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, which is in the process of identifying and
revamping such neglected parks across the city to turn them into green
spots.
It has already got the nod of the Cochin Corporation
to give a facelift to Kunnara Park near the Vytilla Hub. “A `2 crore
project has been drawn up to set up community gardens, lawns and
landscaping at the Kunnara Park.
We’re also mulling over
constructing a walkway from the park to the Vytilla Mobility Hub.
Simultaneously flowering plants and saplings will be planted along the
SA Road,” metro sources said.
The idea of revamping parks into green
spots was thought up after KMRL found it impractical to plant tree
saplings in the city due to lack of space.
Hence, it is forming
small green spots at various places to compensate for the loss of trees
cut to facilitate the Kochi metro project. “We’re also in talks with the
GCDA to give us sanction to revamp the various small parks like the one
in Panampilly Nagar.
The redemption of the Subash Park at Menaka
is also on our minds and so we’ve renewed talks with the corporation on
the issue,” they said. Earlier,Metro authorities had announced that they
would plant 5000 trees in various parts of the city.