The city Corporation is planning a women’s corridor in the Vazhuthacaud area, connecting the Government Women’s College and the Cotton Hill Girls’ Higher Secondary School.
The local body is aiming to project it as a model street with focus on women’s safety. “As part of the project, better street lights, cameras and women-friendly toilets will be set up along the area from Bakery Junction to the Cotton Hill school. The existing footpaths will be improved with seating arrangements at various spots. The walls on both sides will be filled with art work just like the Arteria project,” said a Corporation official.
According to the official, lack of a feeling of safety is what prevents many women from coming out to the streets at night. It is these issues that they are trying to tackle with this project. The women’s corridor will serve as a model, which the local body plans to extend to more places.
Ironically, the project was thought of only because the Corporation had funds remaining to be utilised for projects focussed on women. As per norms, 10% of the budget funds should be used for projects for women.
Still to be used
In case the entire amount is not used up for such projects, it will lapse, as the funds cannot be utilised for other purposes. This year, funds remain to be utilised even after several projects aimed at women were planned.
This was when the local body conducted studies and discussions on what could be done with the remaining funds, leading to the idea of a women’s corridor.
Choice of the place
With Cotton Hill being the school with the most number of girl students in the city, Vazhuthcaud was chosen to be the ideal place to start the women’s corridor project, as the Women’s college also happens to be in the area.
Among other projects for women, the Corporation is building the ‘Nivasam’ home for women behind the Kazhakuttam zonal office of the local body.
The four-storeyed building that can accommodate more than 100 people is aimed at working women and students.
