Kozhikode: The civil works planned as part of the ₹3.64-crore S.M. Street beatification project have begun with the cooperation of various merchants’ bodies in the area.
The removal of overhead power supply lines and lamp posts from the street is almost complete now, and the remaining work, including reconstruction of drainages and rough granite surfacing on the 500-metre street road, is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks.
Joint Director of Tourism K.V. Kunhiraman said all major civil works would be completed by May 25, and therefore the traders will not miss their seasonal sales. He added that all alternative arrangements would be made to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply on the street till the completion of works.
“Several shops and commercial establishments had connected their waste water pipelines to the drainages. We disconnected them with the cooperation of traders to facilitate the fast execution of the renovation work,” said Mr. Kunhiraman. The drainage will be reconstructed with separate ducts for housing power supply lines, BSNL cables, and water authority pipelines in a neat and compact way, he added.
Interestingly, there is a proposal to construct an eye-catching entrance greeting shoppers to the heritage street. The design will be finalised after the street road renovation works and granite tile surfacing are over. Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Limited (ULCCS) has been entrusted with the overall execution of the beautification project.
In support of the Tourism Department’s initiative, the Revenue Department has come up with assistance to clear all official formalities. The Revenue Department had conducted a preliminary survey and prepared a rough plan of the changes needed as part of the beautification project.
