KOZHIKODE: The devastating fire at SM Street has once again brought up the demand raised by prominent citizens and the architects’ fraternity that the old trade street should be converted into a historic place without losing the charm of the past. It is to be recalled that the traders of the area have been opposing earlier projects to renovate SM Street, alleging that once the project is implemented, many of the traders would be uprooted. However, minister for excise and labour TP Ramakrishnan urged the traders’ community to join hands to renovate the buildings in the region. He was talking to traders after visiting the spot where the fire took place earlier this week. “It is high time we realize that we have no other go, but change”, he added.
Minister for transport AK Saseendran said that the traders’ community should cooperate with the renovation project considering the safety of their own business. “All illegal constructions should be demolished and the street should be redesigned”, he added. A section of artists, tourism entrepreneurs and architects had demanded immediate steps to renovate SM Street without damaging the archeological elements. Architect Vinod Cyriac, founder of Space Craft, said that the move to redesign SM Street started decades back in the 1990s. “There is no doubt that the street should be redesigned and old, dilapidated structures renovated”, he added. Mr Cyriac feels that the street should be converted into a walkway, banning all vehicles.
Expert report likely today
District administration will initiate strict action after receiving the report of the special team probing the fire at SM Street. District collector U.V. Jose told DC that necessary steps would be taken to check further fire incidents in SM Street after perusing the report of the expert panel and also after consulting experts. “The team is expected to submit the report on Saturday”, he said. “It is high time we sit together to bring out a solution to renovate SM Street, ensuring the safety of the shops and beauty of the street”, he added.
It is to be recalled that the collector had ordered an inquiry into the devastating fire at SM Street on Wednesday and a special team was constituted. The department of forensics had ruled out the reason for the fire as short circuit, hinting that it may have been caused by fire from a gas stove. Meanwhile, Fire and safety assistant divisional officer, Arun Bhaskar said that the department had submitted a proposal for setting up a fire hydrant network at 20 points, covering a two kilometre radius of the SM Street area.
