KOCHI: As part of announcing Panampilly Nagar as ‘mixed use zone’, the Regional Town Planning office has started a resurvey in the area as per the instructions of the State government. The government has asked it to review the master plan of Elamkulam West residential scheme in which parts of Panampilly Nagar are included and submit a report in 10 days. Officials of the Regional Town Planning office visited the area on Tuesday and inspected the sketches and boundaries. The resurvey process will be carried out by 50 students of SCMS College under the supervision of town planning officials.
Based on this resurvey report, the government will take a final decision on converting the area as ‘mixed use zone’ by March 31. Meanwhile, a major section of the residents are against closing down the shops. “While taking a final decision, the authorities should consider the interest of a majority of residents and shop owners. The commercial firms in the area including banks, supermarkets, eateries, boutiques, educational institutions and other offices make it a township with all the facilities,” said Sreenivasan Krishnan, president of Panampilly Nagar Association of Commercial Establishment and Residents (PACE).
Panampilly Nagar was announced as a housing colony in 1976 with only 100 houses. Now the number of houses has increased to 1800 apart from more than 3000 residential apartments. “Closing down business enterprises will backtrack the area’s development and hundreds of common people, especially the elderly, who have rented out portions of their homes will lose their source of income,” according to representatives of PACE.
