The Hindu : Gandhi Park to be spruced up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Gandhi Park to be spruced up

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 8. An exclusive senior citizens' zone, playing area for children, pedestrian plaza, snack-bar, pathway for jogging and pay-and-park facilities are the highlights of an ambitious Rs. 1.08-crore beautification project to be implemented by the Department of Tourism at the Gandhi Park in the city.

The areas to be beautified under the project includes East Fort and the nearby Pattom Thanu Pillai park. All the designs would be in conformity with the character of the existing East Fort structure and its heritage, a Tourism official told The Hindu.

While Kerala Tourism would spend Rs. 1.08 crores for the beautification project, the Public Works Department would spend Rs. 55.5 lakhs for works such as the re-laying of roads outside the Gandhi Park. The Government has already accorded administrative sanction for the project.

The official said the beautification of the park, to be entrusted to a Government agency, would commence soon. The spruced-up park would be handed over to the City Corporation for daily upkeep once the project is completed.

Under the project, a raised pedestrian passage would be provided on the same alignment as the East Fort gate and the Chalai Bazaar to give tourists and others an unrestricted view of the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The main arch of the park would overlook the temple. The pathway to be created is meant for walking and jogging.

A large lawn with an elevated mandapam (stage) would come up at the south end.

This is meant for organising cultural programmes and meetings. Pay-and-use toilets have been earmarked for construction behind the stage.

The South West and South East corners of the park have been earmarked as children's play area.

Access to the lawn from the passage would be through various steps arranged in such a way that they can be used for sitting.

The pedestrian access has two fountains and a pavilion in the centre. On either side of the pedestrian walkway, space would be set apart for restaurants serving ethnic food, fruit juice and tender coconuts.

The senior citizens' area with a pavilion would be built adjacent to the walkway.

The rest of the area would be covered with grass, flowering plants and bushes. Trees and bushes would also be planted along the peripheral road under the project and streetlights and floodlights installed.

The peripheral area of the park would be used for parking of vehicles.

As many as 70 cars and 36 two-wheelers can be parked here once it is spruced up. The money collected for parking would be used to maintain the area.

The ambitious project, which is expected to alter the face of the city's biggest landmark, East Fort, was prepared after a survey of the Pazhavangadi-Vettimurichakotta stretch.

The design has been prepared by a Kochi-based private group which has taken up the beautification of the Durbar Hall Grounds in that city on similar lines.

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