KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has envisaged some prestigious projects to give a thrust to the tourism sector in the city. However, the major projects in this category are yet to take off. For instance, the Rs 30-crore Broadway and Ernakulam Market Heritage Urban Renewal project which has already got the nod from the Centre is yet to take off. It was in early 2010 that the Broadway renovation project was approved by the Centre by including it under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The Centre for Heritage Environment and Development (C-HED) under the Kochi Corporation had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) which was much appreciated by the Centre.The project mainly aims at widening of roads in the Broadway area, modernisation of vegetable and fish markets, beautification of footpaths and providing adequate parking facility. The Broadway is one of the busiest spots in the city and if properly renovated, it will be a major attraction for the visitors. However, even after one-and-a-half years of its sanction, the project is yet to take off. Thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the civic body, sufficient steps are yet to push the project forward. However, a top Corporation official said that the civic body was planning to hold talks with the traders in the area and convince them about the importance of the project.Another project that will give an uplift to the tourism sector in the city is the Fort Kochi-Mattanchery Heritage Conservation Project. Both the places are of historic relevance in the map of Kochi and are busy tourist spots. The project aims at making the heritage zones, Fort Kochi and Mattanchery, a well-preserved and well-managed urban site that is a safe, healthy and unique place for visitors. The civic body is planning to implement the project by including it in JNNURM at an estimated cost of `50 crore. “A meeting of various stakeholders of the project will be convened soon,” the official said.
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