KOLLAM: Taking the first step in materialising the concept of turning Kollam into a ‘smart city’, the stretch extending from the Chinnakkada circle to the Beach road will be developed as ‘smart-street’. The beach road will thus become the first in the country to become smart street, by inducing comprehensive development of the road and its surrounding areas. The project, which is yet to get a final blueprint, will be implemented solely by the Kollam Corporation without seeking the support of state and central governments.
“Kollam intends to find a place in the list of cities included in the second phase of the smart city project by the Central Government. It is for the first time in the history of the country that a local road and surroundings are being developed into a smart-street,” said Kollam Mayor V. Rajendrababu. The corporation has already conducted preliminary talks with experts in the area including architects for preparing the blueprint of the smart-street.
The major input in turning this road into smart-street will be the introduction of environment-friendly means of transport including bicycles. These bicycles will be made available under a pay-and-use system and will have separate bicycle paths on the smart street. Planned are beautified pavements for pedestrians and new flyovers for them to cross. Solar plants will be installed to provide electricity.
