Plan for a ‘vital city’ to be released today

Three SEZs identified at Beypore, Kozhikode beach, and Olavanna industrial centre

Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel will officially release the master plan for the Kozhikode urban area at a function to be held at the Town Hall on Sunday.

An exhibition will be organised to mark the publication of the 400-page draft master plan prepared for the Kozhikode Corporation and Feroke and Ramanattukara municipalities, and Olavanna and Kadalundi grama panchayats. Citizens can give suggestions on the master plan in accordance with a two-month statutory procedure, Regional Town Planner K.V. Abdul Malik said.

Mr. Malik, who was instrumental in preparing the draft, said all future developments would be in conformity with the provisions of the ‘Masterplan for Kozhikode Urban Area 2035’. The Joint Town Planning Committee (JTPC), chaired by Mayor Thottathil Raveendran and former Mayors A.K. Premajam and V.K.C. Mammed Koya, had taken pains to get the document approved by the State government and published in the State gazette.

Mr. Malik, who is also the JTPC member-secretary, said the Kozhikode urban area so far had to depend on the master plan prepared by the Calicut Development Authority in 1980. The master plan covers an area of 177.08 sq.km. It envisions developing Kozhikode into a vital city in the State.

Mobility hubs planned

As many as 75 amendments have been approved by the Chief Town Planner. However, these amendments will not alter the core structure of the master plan. Mobility hubs have been planned at Malaparamba and Kozhikode Medical College, while Information Technology parks have been proposed at Ramanattukara and Beypore.

Three special economic zones have been identified at Beypore, landward side of the Kozhikode beach, and Olavanna industrial centre.

Five dedicated high-speed bus routes have been planned to connect the city with its suburbs.

The master plan has been prepared on the basis of the present use of land in the city. Nearly 68 per cent of the area falls under residential zone. Of the urban land uses, public and semi-public bodies constitute 4 per cent, while transport and communication constitute 5 per cent each, whereas commercial and industrial concerns constitute approximately 2 per cent each.