Date:20/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/20/stories/2006122023500300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Renovated council hall inaugurated

Special Correspondent

FOR BETTER ADMINISTRATION: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan arriving to inaugurate the renovated Corporation Council hall, in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Gopakumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurated the renovated Council hall of the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation at a function held here on Tuesday.

Minister for Local Self-Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty presided over the inaugural function. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the Government was committed to the improvement of urban infrastructure.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu said the City Corporation would strive to match the improvement in infrastructure with the quality of civic service. He said the local body was working on a time- bound plan to make the Corporation office a model institution with improved service standards.

The Chief Minister unveiled a painting of former Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad, the chief architect of the People's Plan Campaign. He also presented mementos to project engineers K.V. George and Associates, architect Thomas Jacob, portrait painter Madanan and PWD Electronics wing Assistant Engineer M. Sadanandan.

Pannian Ravindran, MP, V. Sivankutty, MLA, Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash, Collector N. Ayyappan, standing committee chairmen, UDF council party leader Johnson Joseph, Corporation Secretary T.K. Raveendran, former Mayor J. Chandra, councillors and party leaders were present on the occasion.

The renovated Council hall features modern equipment and facilities including seating for 100 councillors, separate galleries for the Press, the public and VIPs, a mini conference lounge and a digital conference system with electronic voting facility.

The renovation project costing Rs.81 lakh was implemented with funds from the Modernising Government Programme (MGP) and the Corporation's own resources. The digital sound system was installed by the PWD Electronics wing at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.