here is no doubt that Thrissur city is going through a makeover. Ending the long wait of the people here, the city corporation has finally started developing junctions and roads.
Almost all major junctions in the city, including East Fort, West Fort, Punkunnam, Patturaikkal, Naduvilal, and Koorkkanchery, are witnessing major expansion works.
“Once these junctions, entry points to the city, are widened and developed, traffic congestion will be a thing of past,” said Mayor Rajan Pallan.
Many encroachments had been removed. Shops and establishments at the junctions were demolished, families shifted, and connecting roads were widened. The main achievement of the civic body was that it managed to convince land owners and traders to vacate the land for development when acquiring land is a Himalayan task in the State.
“Though junction development was always the main agenda of political parties, right from the time when Thrissur was a municipality, no one was successful in acquiring land,” Mr. Pallan said.
The ongoing works will bring huge development scope to the city, he noted.
Easy road and rail links to other districts and proximity to Nedumbassery airport are major advantages for Thrissur. The District Tourism Promotion Council has already started efforts to promote Thrissur as an international destination for pilgrim tourism.
The development of East Fort, one of the main junctions in the city, is reaching the final stage. East Fort, where many education institutions, hospitals, and Bishop Palace are located, used to witness severe traffic congestion thought out the day.
MG Road, arterial road starting from Naduvial, will be widened to 22 m till the Kottappuram bridge in the next phase. The works at other junctions, including Punkunnam, Koorkanchery and Pattalam Road, are also in the final stage.
“Discussions were made with top officials of the Postal Department to shift the post office building at the starting point of Pattalam Road. We are waiting for Cabinet clearance,” the Mayor said.
The corporation will rehabilitate all traders and families evicted for city development, the Mayor added.
DTPC has started efforts to promote Thrissur as an international destination for pilgrim tourism
Published - September 13, 2015 12:00 am IST
