[emmesk]

Master plan 2031 in the making

The first draft of a master plan for Thiruvananthapuram is expected to be submitted to the government by December 31.

The new Thiruvananthapuram master plan 2031 will be a document outlining the city's development agenda for the next 20 years, focussing on the land use pattern, traffic and transportation, infrastructure, solid waste management and sanitation, which will be revised every five years. A one-day workshop was convened here by the Corporation and the Town and Country Planning Department on Saturday to discuss the preparation of the plan.

Officials of various departments; Corporation councillors; chairpersons of standing committees; Corporation officials as well as members of the 19 working groups constituted for giving regional inputs on development issues, trends, area-specific development plans and projects for proposed master plan, took part in the workshop.

Mayor K. Chandrika, who inaugurated the workshop, said that a dynamic master plan which accommodated the development needs and goals had become very crucial for the capital city, which had expanded into 100 Corporation wards and was projected to develop as a metro.

Thiruvananthapuram had its first master plan in 1971. Though a revised plan was prepared in 1995, it was not approved by the government. In 2007, the plan was just updated. The new master plan 2031 was a renewed opportunity for the Corporation and planners to prepare a well-researched guideline on how the city should be in the next 20 years and it should address the issues and difficulties posed by the existing master plan, she said.

More details here

 

[Ajaypp]

^^ - Sounds like yet another plan at a plan for the Corporation as opposed to a real Metropolitan area plan. Wonder why it's being kept a strictly Government only affair. Sounds like a recipe for disaster! Sigh!

 

[ajith_124]

When is the national games in kerala scheduled? hearing of it for years now, and the stadium being build for that.

 

[shelly]

Rs.50 crore for tourism facilities
S. Anil Radhakrishnan
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Project includes development of new destinations and circuits

Kerala Tourism has been granted Rs.50 crore for basic infrastructure development at tourist destinations and development of new tourist destinations and circuits as part of its efforts to attract more tourists to the State.

Under the scheme, improvement of basic facilities at Kovalam, Ponmudi, Varkala, Ashtamudi, Alappuzha, and Wayanad will be taken up. Development of new destinations and circuits such as the eastern corridor of Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, Nila, Vypeen, Paravoor, Thalassery, and Wagamon has been included in the project.

Official sources said the government had sanctioned an additional amount of Rs.50 crore in the annual Plan 2011-12 for the scheme through supplementary demands for grants. The Rs.50 crore is in addition to the Rs.107-crore budget allocation to the tourism sector this year.

The project will be completed this financial year itself, Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar said


Town squares at Paravur, the gateway of Muziris, the helipad atop the laterite cliff at Varkala that overlooks the Arabian Sea, more facilities for tourists who come for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha, and paragliding and other adventure sports at Wagaom figure in the projects identified to the taken up.

The government has already come up with a blue print for giving a facelift to the famed beach resort at Kovalam. A Rs.10-crore drinking water project would be implemented with the assistance of the Kerala Water Authority to solve the shortage of drinking water in the beach resort, sources said. The existing dilapidated guest house in the hill resort of Ponmudi will be demolished and a new one will be

 

[Ajaypp]

When is the national games in kerala scheduled? hearing of it for years now, and the stadium being build for that.

2013 is a fair guess at this point although the official date is still 12-12-12 as last announced. The Main Stadium is due to break ground in Jan 2012 and will take 18 months to commission as per current plans. So we could be looking at end 2013 as a potential date. The last Games were in Feb 2011, so 2013 is acceptable given the biennial nature of the National Games.

It would be best to wait till the world-class stadium is ready to conduct the Opening/Closing ceremonies rather than rush the Games now, IMHO.

 

[ajith_124]

Thanks Ajay for the Info. Is it coming up inside the university of kerala kariyavattom campus?

 

[Ajaypp]

Thanks Ajay for the Info. Is it coming up inside the university of kerala kariyavattom campus?

You are most welcome, Ajith. Yes the stadium and associated facilities are coming up in a 31 acre parcel within the Karyavattom. Site prep is already in progress.

 

[ajithv]

As many as 13 fully automated e-toilets, a convergence of electronics, web and mobile technologies, will be installed in busy areas along the arterial road of Thiruvananthapuram City and in the beaches of Kovalam using the District Innovation Fund (DIF) and from the MP fund.

Kowdiar, Vellayambalam, Saphalyam Complex in Palayam, Government Secretariat, Putharikandam Maidan, Gandhi Park, East Fort, Shanghumughom, Eve’s Beach and Asoka Beach in Kovalam are the places where the e-toilets are to be installed. Two e-toilets each are to be installed at Shanghumughom, Eve’s and Ashoka beach at Kovalam, where the tourists frequent mostly and the remaining places are to get one unit each.

The e-toilets to come up will be the upgraded versions of the ones installed in the museum and Kanakakunnu premises recently. The 13 e-toilets will come in handy for the public, especially the Sabarimala pilgrims, as the city lacks efficient toilet facilities. The civic authorities had also not bothered to take adequate steps to address the public sanitation issue and it continues to be a neglected area as in other cities in the country.

http://bit.ly/sITsvR

 

[SajithVijayan]

Train journey from Kochuveli to Kazhakkoottam. Infosys also can be seen in the frame.

 

[RajeshVR]

Bollards, sentry posts for temple's protection

Treasures likely to be stored in steel reinforced blast-proof vaults

Electro-hydraulic bollards, short vertical posts, and road blockers will be installed 50 m away from the four main entrances of the landmark Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple to protect the ancient structure and its rare treasures from any armed attempt to breach its security using vehicles laden with explosives.

At the press of a button, the bollards and blockers will emerge from their underground casings to the height of at least one meter above road-level. They can absorb impact loads up to 5,000 Kilo Newton, according to the police.

Bullet-proof sentry posts fitted with light machine guns to return suppressing fire in the event of an armed attack will overlook the roads leading to the main entrances.

A machine gun mounted armoured vehicle, protected against rocket launched grenade attacks and landmines, and commandos will be on standby round-the-clock to support the sentries.

RFID tags for visitors

Visitors to the temple will be issued radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to help security men track their movements unobtrusively. They will have to pass through an array of x-ray baggage scanners and door frame fitted metal detectors to enter the temple.

Surveillance cameras will capture the faces of visitors and a computer-based facial recognition system will compare their digital images with the facial features of wanted men, including terrorists and Interpol listed treasure thieves.

The main entrances and exits will be fitted with turnstiles, a form of gate which allows only one person to pass at a time. Visitors will have to return their RFID tags before they exit the temple. Any attempt to smuggle the tags outside will automatically trigger an alarm.
Aerial surveillance

of the sky An aerial radar surveillance system will be mounted near the temple to scan 10 sq km above the heritage locality for incoming flying objects, including planes, helicopters, drones, powered gliders, manned balloons and parachutes.

A seismograph-linked alarm system will be fixed to detect any attempt to tunnel into the subterranean treasure vaults.

A large part of the ancient riches are likely to be stored in steel reinforced blast-proof vaults to be built near the ‘Chandana Mandapam' inside the temple.

The vaults will be armed with a wide range of sound, motion, pressure and heat-triggered alarms and sophisticated locks fitted with bio-metric recognition systems.

Armoured doors will restrict the approach to the vaults. The walls of the temple will be electrically fenced and a fire sprinkler system, an active fire protection device linked to a water supply network, installed.

An infrared-beam-based invisible intruder detection system linked to a security camera network will protect the temple's perimeter. They will be fitted with electronic intrusion sensors wired to surveillance cameras and sound alarms.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham has designed the Rs.25-crore security system, which will be implemented in phases. State Police Chief Jacob Punnose; Additional Directors-General of Police Venugopal K. Nair and K. Chandrasekhar; and Inspector-General of Police K. Padmakumar are supervising its implementation.

Source: The Hindu

 

[RajeshVR]

‘Jersey farms to be made high-tech’

THIRUVNANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan has said that the Jersey farms at Vithura and Chettachal farms will be made high-tech farms. He was participating in the discussions with workers and officials during his visit to the farms.

He directed the officials to prepare a draft report. Biogas plant will be set up at Chettachal farm.

District Panchayat president Ramani P Nair, Socialist Janata(D) district presidsent Charupara Ravi, veterinary director R Vijayakumar, and others also participated in the discussions.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/‘Jersey-farms-to-be-made-high-tech’/338516.html

 

[RajeshVR]

Welgate Organic: Organic Vegetable & Fruits Market And 'Kadalivanam' Nature Friendly Food Court in Trivandrum City

Trivandrum, November 30, 2011: Welgate group which is famous for CDs and DVDs in Kerala is now catering a new cult in their business structure. The 30 year old business group now started a new business called Welgate Organic at Kuravankonam, one of the most developing corner in Trivandrum city.

Welgate Organic brings a exclusive heritage food court named 'Kadalivanam'. The food court starts its business from December 1, 2011. The chief attractions in the food court are ..
1. Organic Vegetable Juice, available from 7am to 9am.
2. Organic Banana Fry,available from 10am to 12pm.
3. Nilamboor Biriyani, available from 12pm to 1pm.
4. Naadukaani Mutton Biriyani available from 1pm to 2pm.
5. Adivasi Chicken Curry and Tapioca, available from 3pm to 5pm.
6. Vayanadan Chicken Curry and Chapathi, available from 5pm to 9pm.
7. Organic Fruit Juice, available from 10am to 9pm.
8. Sunday Shalom Breakfast, [Rs.100] available on Sundays from 7am to 12pm.

Also Welgate Organic bringing a special shopping offer. A 10 kg pack contains 21 organic vegetables for Rs.300 and a 10 kg organic fruits pack also for Rs.300.

From Welgate Organic, one can buy products of various institution like Jaivasree, Gramasree, Vanasree, Wayanad Hills, Idukky valley and Palakkadan organic rice, Adivasi products, wild cardamom, forest pepper, forest honey, Nilgiri leaves, herbal cosmetics and Santhigiri products.

SOURCE

 

[RajeshVR]

 

[RajeshVR]

IFFK 2011 Inauguration: Jaya Bachchan Chief Guest

Trivandrum,30 November 2011: Ex MP and actress Jaya Bachchan will be the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony of the 16th International Film Festival of Kerala 2011.

The International Film Festival of Kerala IFFK is the second most leading film festival of India after the International Film Festival of India held at Goa. The IFFK is organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala every year. The festival will commence from December 9 to 16 at various theatres in Trivandrum.

 

[RajeshVR]

Government of Kerala has created 233 posts of policemen for the Sree Padmanabha swamy temple security.

 

[shelly]

‘Jersey farms to be made high-tech’

THIRUVNANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan has said that the Jersey farms at Vithura and Chettachal farms will be made high-tech farms. He was participating in the discussions with workers and officials during his visit to the farms.

He directed the officials to prepare a draft report. Biogas plant will be set up at Chettachal farm.

District Panchayat president Ramani P Nair, Socialist Janata(D) district presidsent Charupara Ravi, veterinary director R Vijayakumar, and others also participated in the discussions.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/‘Jersey-farms-to-be-made-high-tech’/338516.html

so what would be the faith of IGNOU campus ? Is it dropped?

 

[vinod/kakka]

Only 25 acres are going to go for IGNOU - Jersey Farm is ~250 acres, AFAIK

 

[RajeshVR]

Uppidamoodu-Pattoor stretch to be three-lane, not four :bash:

The Uppidamoodu-Vanchiyoor-Pattoor stretch will be widened only to a three-lane road, instead of the proposed four-lane, following disputes over the felling of 56 trees on the route. The stretch acts as an alternative corridor when the arterial road gets blocked in the city.

The trees, majority of them rain trees, which are near the Amayizhinjan canal need to be cut to make the road a four-lane stretch under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP). Also, the canal on the stretch has to be covered with pre-stressed double box like culverts to allow motor vehicles to pass through.

The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the executing agency of CRIP, needs the permission of the Forest Department to cut the trees. As this permission is not forthcoming, the authorities say they have no option but to restrict the stretch to a three-lane one.

They say that a four-lane road would have smoothened vehicular flow when traffic is diverted once marches are taken out to the Secretariat and the Assembly building. They add that there will be a surge in the traffic along the road once the flyover at Melepazhavangadi across the arterial road comes up.

CRITERION FOR ‘TREE'

The development of the stretch has assumed significance with the improvement of General Hospital Junction, one of the busiest on the 9.56-km Airport-Asan Square-MLA Hostel Road corridor.

It has been pointed out that when the CRIP commenced five years ago these trees had a girth under 30 cm, the minimum level required for a plant to qualify as ‘tree'. Hence, officials point out, the Forest Department's approval would not have been necessary for felling the trees then. But, the authorities hesitated, fearing the wrath of environmentalists.

As per the detailed project report, the General Hospital-Vanchiyoor road, one of the most congested stretches in the capital, is to be made one-way to ease traffic. But, traffic officials have not given approval to the proposal that will ease congestion in front of Holy Angels' Convent.

The development of the Uppidamoodu-Vanchiyoor-Pattoor road will facilitate easy movement of vehicles to Pattoor and avoid chaos near the old Collectorate and Vanchiyoor, they say.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/article2680444.ece

 

[RajeshVR]

Kerala Financial Corpn launches e-sale Web portal

Mr Yogesh Gupta, Managing Director, Kerala Financial Corporation.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 1:
The Minister for Finance, Law and Housing, Mr K. M. Mani, launched the e-sale Web portal and core financial solution at the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) at a function here on Wednesday.

Tata Consultancy Services has developed the core financial solution to fully computerise the loan accounts and automation of office procedures at KFC.

PAPERLESS OFFICE

The core financial solution will make the corporation a paperless organisation in near future, company spokesman said.

It will also inter-link all zonal offices and branches and undertake automation of transactions, appraisal, disbursement, recovery and also financial and administrative activities. With the new system, customers of the corporation would be able to use the services of the corporation online.

The offer document of the KFC bond issue of Rs 100 crore was also released by the Minister at the function, which was attended by the Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Yogesh Gupta.

GREEN-SHOE OPTION

The bond issue has a green-shoe option of Rs 100 crore. The bonds would be in the nature of debentures with unconditional, irrevocable guarantee of the State Government.

The bond would be redeemable, non-convertible and taxable, and is rated ‘A-(SO)' by Brickwork Ratings, the spokesman added.

The face value of each bond will be Rs 10 lakh at 10.24 per cent per annum with half-yearly pay-outs. The maturity of the bond will be 10 years.

The investor will have the option to redeem the bond at the end of the fourth year at 25 per cent per year from the fourth year to the seventh year. The bonds will be listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com.../article2678246.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

 

[sudheeshnairs]

Many of the posts in this page are not fit to be in a ‘Projects thread’ and are more suited to General Discussions thread.