Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Vision 2030 moots satellite town, metro rail

Thiruvananthapuram: A proposal to establish a satellite town in the Vattiyoorkavu- Nettayam- Nedumangadu belt was one of the major recommendations of Vision 2030, the two-day seminar organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, which concluded here on Thursday.

To be designed on the lines of New Mumbai, the proposed satellite town would be located on 2,500 acres. It would have a new general hospital, an international airport and world-class sports centres with stadium and training facilities. A bypass from Vattiyoorkavu and a railway line would provide connectivity.

Professional bodies and NGOs, which participated in the seminar, pledged support to the government in preparing a long-term roadmap for the development of the capital region.

NGOs including the Trivandrum Residents Apex Council (TRAC) and Environment and Development Initiatives, Thiruvananthapuram (EDIT) and professional organisations such as the Indian Institute of Architects submitted recommendations and offered to support the comprehensive development of the city.

The seminar also decided to explore the possibility of a metro rail like the one in New Delhi to encourage a shift from private to public transport. It proposed the construction of outer ring roads and a new bus terminal near the Veli railway station.

Another major recommendation was the development of the Poovar-Vizhinjam East Coast Road to accommodate heavy truck traffic.

Speakers at the seminar stressed the need for the master plan to ensure planned development of the coastal areas. They called for an urban transportation system focussing on the mobility and safety of pedestrians. They also highlighted the need to protect footpath-dwellers while taking up development activities.

The discussions called for defining the functional roles and strategies of the satellite towns, namely Attingal, Nedumangad, Varkala and Neyyatinkara.

The two-day exercise that was organised to finalise the approach to the second master plan for the capital region recommended the involvement of the private sector in the drive to provide affordable housing for lower income groups. It proposed concessions to private builders to promote low-income group housing.

The seminar mooted the idea of decentralised water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants, considering the cost-effectiveness.

It called for a strategy plan for the entire capital area with separate plans for the central city zone and outlying areas.

It underlines the need to leverage the predominance of health care and educational institutions in the development strategy of the city.

Other major proposals include facilities to cater to city residents and the floating population. The development of sports infrastructure to host major international events and construction of mini-stadia in all panchayats have been proposed for inclusion in the master plan.

Yet another recommendation is the need for regulation to provide service ducts for utility services to avoid frequent road cuts.

The seminar proposed the constitution of a technical and advisory committee for the preparation of the master plan. It also recommended consultations with experts and stakeholders.

The master plan would be prepared to accommodate the development needs of the capital for the next 20 years. It would, however, be subject to periodic revision.

The proposed plan of action recommends an administrative mechanism for speedy completion of the master plan. The draft plan is to be ready by January 2010 and government approval by December 2010.

TRIDA chairman C. Ajaya Kumar, Mayor C. Jayan Babu and officials from various departments participated in the deliberations.

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