THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The relocation of Gandhi Park has been proposed as the prime requirement to decongest East Fort that has become synonymous for accidents wherein buses run over pedestrians. On Sunday also a minor suffered fractures on leg after a bus ran over him. A comprehensive plan by district administration said that even if acquision of Attakulangara School is set aside, around 10 acres of land is available for development at East Fort.
A phased development in next two years involving KSRTC and corporation can decongest the heart of the city. Gandhi Park, which has presently been reduced to 75 cents, can be shifted to 1.13 acres of KSRTC land on opposite side of the road making room for development. The Chalai road shall be extended through the middle of the Gandhi Park, restoring the original glory of East Fort. With this, Padmanabha temple will be visible from a long distance.
This can divide the park into two and Chalai and the Fort side can be connected by foot over bridge or subway. The northern part of the Gandhi Park shall be combined to the 1.90 acres of land belonging to the KSTRC and a new bus terminal-cum-shopping complex will be constructed there.
Southern portion of the Gandhi Park can be combined together with 1.64 acres of TRIDA and bus bay could be constructed here. A skywalk shops on both sides shall be constructed from the proposed shopping-cum-hospital complex connecting the new bus terminals and Putharikandam. The long term plan proposed by collector Biju Prabhakar is in consideration of state government.
