₹10-cr project to develop Attukal.

A ₹10-crore project for road widening, water supply, sewage, bus bay, crowd management, parking facilities, and solid waste management has been planned as part of phase one of the Attukal master plan.

The project was discussed at a meeting presided over by Minister for Devaswom and Tourism Kadakampally Surendran here on Wednesday.

The focus will be on development of areas close to the temple and of the main Bund road and improving connectivity.

An Annadanam-cum-multipurpose hall is one of the main elements of the project. It will have facilities to provide food to 1,250 people on the ground floor and a rest area for 850-odd people and bathrooms on the second floor. The hall will also be used for other purposes. A green room and a stage for conducting functions will be planned with this end.

The structure will have a modern kitchen, and other utilities, including a 30-kld sewage treatment plant. There will be a lift and staircase to the second floor. The project will cost ₹6.59 crore.

Three steel bridges will come up across the Killi river. One bridge will be extended by 6 m and two new bridges will come up. The project will cost ₹2.5 crore

A 600-m long and 6-m wide walkway with interlocked tiles is also planned. It will also function as an emergency evacuation route during Pongala.

Movable kiosks for water are planned for ₹10 lakh. New signage and landscaping are also planned.

The project estimate has been submitted to the Local Self-government Secretary for administrative sanction.

The Minister said the master plan would be implemented without acquiring any land. The government was keen on completing the work in a time-bound manner. Directions would be given for expediting the work as soon as no-objection certificate was obtained from the trust on taking up work on its land.

Mr. Surendran suggested that the work be handed over to an empanelled agency of the government for implementation.

He also suggested that treatment of waste from three public toilet complexes near the temple be taken up as part of the project.

O. Rajagopal, MLA; V. Sivankutty, former MLA; former Mayor Jayan Babu; Attukal ward councillor Beena; trust chairman R. Ravindran Nair and other office-bearers attended the meeting.

THE HINDU