Kollam city would be developed to the standards of an international city with a Chandni Chowk-model commercial complex if the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is voted back to power, states a 24-page election manifesto for Kollam City Corporation released by LDF on Tuesday.
The complex will be a trade centre for products of the traditional industries in the district.
The manifesto was released at a press conference. When asked about the LDF election manifesto of 2005, which too had promised that Kollam would be developed as an international city, the LDF leaders said the process had been launched by the outgoing LDF ruling team.
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On the raging Chinnakada underpass issue, the leaders blamed the United Democratic Front (UDF) for the delay in constructing the underpass. The UDF leaders had influenced the Railways against allocating land at Chinnakada for constructing an approach road for the underpass, they alleged. But if voted back to power, steps would be taken to complete the construction at the earliest.
The manifesto states that all developmental activities will be carried out in tune with garbage disposal and treatment, easing of traffic congestion and proper town planning. Measures to ease the traffic congestion in the city have already been launched by the outgoing LDF ruling team. The process will continue if the LDF is voted back to power.
To solve the problem of vehicle parking, multi-storey parking facilities will be constructed. All junctions in the city will be developed and toilet facilities will be provided at various points for those travelling through the city. An open-air auditorium will be constructed in an ideal location for political parties and other organisations to hold pubic meetings.
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Foot-over bridges will be constructed at the SN College and Saint Joseph's Girls High School junctions. A subway will be constructed at the taluk office junction. The width of all footpaths along the important roads in the city will be widened for the convenience of pedestrians. An exclusive footpath would be developed for pedestrians to reach the Kollam beach from Chinnakada-Payikada-Ganapati Ambalam.
There will be considerable thrust for poverty alleviation. Steps would be taken to provide healthcare and education for children from BPL families. Better facilities would be provided for those living in slums.
A history museum will be set up to project the rich history of Tangasseri in the district. Water fronts along Tangasseri, Kollam beach, Thirumullavaram and Kollam canal and the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake would be beautified and made attractive to promote tourism, says the manifesto.