New Palayam Market: Cast Your Vote

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s not every day that citizens get to choose the look of a market complex coming up in the city. The City Corporation is, however, offering a chance whereby the public can vote for the best among four models for renovation of the Palayam Connemara market.  The designs would be put up at a pavilion specially built for the purpose in front of the market from Wednesday for seven days and the public can cast their votes there. At a press conference called by the Mayor and her team to announce the concept at the conference hall of the Corporation office here on Tuesday, the representatives of INKEL who are also part of the project were present. The project also has the support of TRIDA. However, there seemed to be a bit of confusion remaining, with the officials reluctant to share the details regarding the estimate of the project or its other details. The technical viability of the designs has also not been tested, INKEL officials said. Sources said that the change in government has pushed the project into a bit of uncertainty regarding the cost.Mayor K Chandrika said that the project is being envisaged under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode. The estimates of the projects were not taken because it is an expensive affair to get the cost drawn as the consultants would charge a high fee for it too. ‘’Instead of checking the technical viability of every design, we thought the model selected by the public could be evaluated,’’ Chandrika said. According to officials, the market complex would include a hotel, shopping mall and the market. The project would be implemented in two phases and completed in 42 months. In the first phase, the mall would be set up where the traders, shopkeepers and stalls presently put up in the Connemara market would be shifted. ‘’We plan it to be of international standard, which would put Palayam on the tourist map. It will also address the parking issues in the area,’’ the Mayor said.  The four models have been designed by four architects. However, they are all eco-friendly and cost-effective, INKEL officials said at the meeting and presented the concept and designs. Meanwhile, if you can’t make it to Palayam to cast your vote, you can log on to www.inkel.in  and click on your choice.