Economic development is an integral part of any urban design plan and development should always be humane and sustainable, Minister J. Mercykutty Amma said here on Saturday.
Speaking at a session on ‘Kollam City Vision’ at Urban Design Matters, a three-day national conclave jointly organised by Kollam Corporation and Institute of Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI), she added that port development should be given priority in Kollam since the sector had high potential. N.K. Premachandran, MP, another speaker, said environmental concerns were equally important when an urban design was conceived. “Development should be comprehensive and holistic, not infrastructure-based,” he said.
The extended team of IUDI examined various challenges faced by cities through a case study of Kollam in the session.
The conference focused on tier-2 cities of India, looking into infrastructure development, cultural heritage, historical relevance, urban services, and waste management.
The participants found Kollam a perfect site for study and prototypical projection and through various sessions the team has derived development plans and strategies that will help the Corporation realise the concept of a ‘Global Kollam’.
Cultural importance
The session also analysed the historic and cultural importance of Kollam city and the need to revive its early industries.
Rehabilitation of Pullikkada colony, Kollam canal rejuvenation, efficient sewerage and waste management systems, traffic issues, and high-speed railway development were other subjects that came up for discussion at the session.
It was observed that the city needed a widening of its economic prospects, wherein the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram agglomeration needs to balance out in a uniform manner so as to engage more areas and sectors into the new phase of development.
The speakers said that future of Kollam lay in sectors like agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and industries and the city needs a scientific, pragmatic, holistic, and unique master plan.
The conclave had over 60 urban designers and 300 delegates participating in various sessions.
A few of the speakers and moderators of the conference include Tay Kheng Soon, K.T. Ravindran, Anuraag Chowfla, Ujan Ghosh, Arunava Dasgupta, A. Srivathsan, P.V.K. Rameshwar, Seetha Raghupathy, Maria Mendizabal, Brinda Shastry, Paromita Roy, Eugene Pandala, Rajender Singh, Manoj Kumar Kini, and Ganga Dileep.
