Thiruvananthapuram: The much-hyped Chalai heritage street project has been scaled down owing to paucity of funds. The Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the implementing agency, is learnt to have redesigned the project focusing only on the first part of the original project modelled on SM Street in Kozhikode. The focus now will be only on the beautification of all eight roads leading to the 400-year-old market.
The re-modification of the heritage street project will take place without evacuating the traders. As per the new decision, priority will be given to enable smooth road connectivity to the market by renovating the adjoining roads. The market will have eight access points.
A senior official of the SCTL told TOI that SM Street model development was on hold for the time being and the current agenda includes road beautification, signages, and street light installation works. “The road works have started; the street light installation works will also begin soon. However, the concept of converting it into a heritage street is not possible now, and it can be done in the next phases.
If we receive funds from projects, including the AMRUT scheme, we can expand the plan further and construct the other components provided in the project’s scope,” the official said. According to MLA Antony Raju, who oversees the project, the review meeting to be held in the first week of Sept will decide the fate of the heritage street project. “We will take measures to complete the.