Date:02/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/02/stories/2006070203340300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Stadium, bus station to come up in Alappuzha

Staff Reporter

Works estimated at Rs. 27 crores planned in town

ALAPPUZHA: The town municipality proposes to implement development works at an estimated cost of Rs. 27 crores in 2006-07, municipal chairman P.P. Chitharanjan said here on Saturday.

At a press conference, he said the works included construction of a stadium and a private bus station, completion of a solid-waste processing plant, making the town plastic-free and a project to eradicate slums.

Mr. Chitharanjan said work on the first phase of the stadium would begin in September. The estimated cost of that phase was Rs. 4.5 crores. The State Government had earmarked Rs. 1 crore in the revised budget for the stadium. The municipality had earmarked Rs. 50 lakhs from the Plan fund for the work.

He said work on the waste processing plant was progressing at Sarvodayapuram near the town. Listing other projects, he said the municipality would construct a modern office-cum-shopping complex at Municipal Satram complex, spending Rs. 2 crores. The town hall shopping complex would be renovated at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crores. The municipality would spend Rs. 1.5 crores on the construction of the bus station at Vazhicherry.

Mr. Chitharanjan said the municipality would spend Rs. 60 lakhs on relocating those living in slums here. The civic body also planned to provide loans to 1,500 people under its self-employment promotion scheme.

He said the municipality would submit a master plan to the Union Government for the overall development of the town. The Centre would provide aid for maintenance of the town, which was been declared a heritage town, he added.