: With the twin objective of decongesting the National Highway-66 and tapping tourism potential, the district administration has proposed the creation of a waterway along the Parvathy Puthanar canal.
In a report submitted to the State government, District Collector Biju Prabhakar has proposed regular services from Kovalam to Varkala after de-weeding the Parvathy Puthanar, Akkulam/Veli lake and Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur (TS) canal.
He has called for reviving the ‘Theerapadham’ project that was initiated by the LDF government to rehabilitate unauthorised dwellers on either side of Parvathy Puthanar, conversion of the paths into walkways and development of the region as a commercial hub.
Mr. Prabhakar has recommended taking forward the proposed Aeropolis project, envisaged with the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at the centre of the activities. As per the existing plan, the project included the establishment of a convention centre and utilisation of the waterway of Parvathy Puthanar, along with the development of the airport. He urged the government to integrate the proposed project with the pending land acquisition for shifting the domestic terminal report to near the International airport.
Among the other proposals, the District Collector mooted establishing a railway siding from Kazhakuttom, which passed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thumba and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, en route to Kovalam and Vizhinjam.
He advocated the proposal over the existing one to create a siding from Nemom to Vizhinjam.
According to him, his proposal would enable the diversion of goods trains that were headed for Vizhinjam and Tamil Nadu and reduce traffic congestion of trains headed towards the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.
Benefit VSSC staff also
It would also benefit employees of the VSSC as well as those headed to the airport who would not have to rely on taxis and auto-rickshaws.
The administration has also called for acquiring nearly 20 acres of land between the Veli railway station and the new transport hub at Anayara to establish a lorry parking area and amenity centre for drivers.
It must be ensured that lorries did not enter the city, especially those headed for Chalai, for loading and unloading operations before 8 p.m.
Efforts must also be made to prevent heavy vehicles headed towards Tamil Nadu from entering the city during the peak hours.
