Waking up to the challenge posed by the commercialisation of Boulevard, the Town and Country Planning Department recently incorporated heritage conservation bylaws in the Puducherry Town and Country Planning Act, 1969.
A specific bylaw — Puducherry Building Bylaws and Zone Regulation — had been incorporated in the Act to restrict demolition of heritage building for commercial activity. As part of the measures, the department had started listing heritage buildings in the Boulevard area. The incorporation of bylaw gives a legal backing for protection of heritage building, a senior official told The Hindu.
A committee comprising architects, civil engineers, heritage experts and government officials has been constituted to look into demands from public for taking up construction after demolishing old buildings. Senior officials said there were several projects lined up under the Smart City project to address civic and parking issues in Boulevard.
There is a proposal to create a non-motorised zone in the area after construction of parking lots near Tiruvalluvar Bus Stand, Old Port and Jail complex.
According to a senior official, eight electric vehicles would be operated from the parking lots to Boulevard. “Exemption will be given to people residing in the area. Tourists will be allowed to park their vehicles in the designated places and commute to Boulevard in electric vehicles.
The fare will be nominal. This will address much of the problem faced by people living in the locality,” he said.
