The Hindu : Kerala News : Project to illuminate historical monuments in Fort Kochi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Project to illuminate historical monuments in Fort Kochi

Staff Reporter

Project estimated to cost Rs.1 crore submitted to the Department of Tourism

IN FOR A FACELIFT: Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi, is among the monuments that will be lit up with soft lighting.

KOCHI: The historical monuments and buildings at the heritage zone in Fort Kochi will soon be lit up during night.

A project estimated to cost Rs.1 crore has been submitted by District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish to the Department of Tourism. The project will be implemented with the assistance of the India Tourism, said the Collector, who is also the secretary of Fort Kochi Heritage Development Society.

Government nod awaited

Now, the approval of the State Government is awaited.

The historical monuments, including St. Francis Church, Dutch Cemetery, Cochin Club, Parade Ground, Santa Cruz Basilica and Bastion Bungalow will be lit up with soft lighting. The maintenance cost of the lighting has also been included in the project.

The iron lamps and the other traditional lamps in the heritage zone will be maintained, said the Collector.

A total number of 60 cast iron lamp posts have already been readied for this purpose.

It is expected that the work of the illumination could be started during this season itself, he said.

The heritage zone in Fort Kochi contains a number of monuments and buildings dating back to the Dutch and Portuguese colonisers.

The Bastion Bungalow, which houses the Fort Kochi RDO Office, was declared a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology a few years ago.

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