The lack of an overall strategy for infrastructure renewal in Kochi will again come into focus during the Emerging Kerala investors' meet as experts feel that it is high time the authorities initiated steps to improve the basic infrastructure facilities here.
Excise Minister K Babu too had recently reiterated the need for improving the basic amenities to carry out development projects in the city.
“The immediate requirement of the city is a boost in existing infrastructure facilities. The state government should initiate steps to improve them so that more investors will opt for Kochi as a major investment destination,” said architect S Gopakumar.
A majority of the fresh proposals put forth by the local bodies for construction of RoBs, flyovers and new roads are still in their initial stages. Likewise, are the plans for widening the roads in the city. For the latter, it is land acquisition that is the major obstacle.
“Instead of huge capital-intensive projects, steps should be taken to implement projects to develop major junctions. The four major junctions that require urgent development to avoid traffic congestion are Kundannoor, Vyttila, Palarivattom and Edappally,” he said.
Regarding the road development, experts say that more pedestrian-friendly roads are the need of the hour.
Other Projects
Regarding the major projects that can be proposed in the Emerging Kerala, experts point out that as a business city, a convention centre is most important to Kochi.
“Being the commercial capital of Kerala, Kochi needs an exhibition centre. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has already mooted an underground exhibition centre near Kaloor. Hence the promoters should think of setting up a state-of-the-art convention facility here,” they say.
There are unexplored sectors too. “For instance, handicraft is one sector that has immense potentials. Moving further from the idea of simply showcasing handicraft items, the sector can join hands with hospitality sector and attain new levels,” they say.
In education sector, language institutes can be set up to train the drivers and locals on foreign languages, which will facilitate better interaction with tourists. “Tourism does not mean investing crores on existing destinations, but the investors' meeting should look into the possibilities of exploring new arenas,” they say.
Citing the advanced markets in foreign countries as example, experts pointed out the lack of clean and well-maintained markets in the city.
“Our concept of market means vendors selling vegetables and fish on either sides of the way to the market. In many foreign countries like Spain, there are markets which are clean and neatly maintained. Such practices should start here and if the city has the potential to attract investors, it should benefit the common man too,” they said.
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