Subhas park to get facelift

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has chalked out a plan to give a face-lift to Subhas Chandra Bose Park. The plan includes complete renovation of the park through public-private-participation (PPP) mode.“As per the initial stage, we have decided to create three different designs for the park. The public can select the best among the three,” said a top official.The Town Planning Committee has already started the procedure to identify an agency to create the designs. The previous Corporation Council had also planned the park’s renovation. “Last year, the council decided to renovate the park on a PPP basis. The plan was to modernise with the help of agencies like Rotary Club. However, this year, we have not decided upon the means for its implementation,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman K J Sohan.He said the planning committee would discuss the matter and the final decision would be taken only after obtaining the consent of the Corporation Council.Sohan said lack of public space was another challenge faced by a congested city like Kochi.  “So more projects should be formulated for the development and maintenance of public space in the city. Though the modernisation of Subhas Chandra Bose Park was included in the earlier budgets, the plan did not materialise due to difference of opinion about the display of advertisements at the park after renovation,” he added.