With a fresh push, the Chalai Heritage Street Project is picking up speed, as a proposal for INR 60 Crore has been put forth to the Urban Challenge Fund. Upon its completion, the project seeks to maintain the cultural importance of the Chalai market.
The Centre's Urban Challenge Fund has become the beacon of hope for the long-standing vision of transforming the historic Chalai market in Thiruvananthapuram. The Chalai heritage street redevelopment project, managed by Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), is seeking seed funding of approximately INR 60 crore from the fund.
Preliminary discussions with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have been completed, and if approved, groundwork on the main stretch of the project is expected to begin within three months. The project, originally conceptualised in 2018, was inspired by Kozhikode's SM Street model.
The Chalai heritage project aims to preserve the cultural significance of the Chalai market while introducing infrastructure upgrades that encourage footfall and promote heritage tourism. The redevelopment plan includes features such as tiled walkways, uniform heritage-style arches, underground utility ducts, LED streetlights, umbrella canopies, free Wi-Fi access, heritage-themed graffiti, and landscaped seating areas.
The project is a collaborative effort between SCTL, the tourism department, and the public works department. The redeveloped Chalai market is expected to rejuvenate the area, support local businesses, and attract tourists, thereby contributing to the city's economic growth.
However, the project has faced delays in the past. With renewed momentum from the Smart City initiative and support from the relevant departments, the Chalai heritage street redevelopment project is poised to advance soon, pending central funding approval.
[1] Our Brand Name Media, "Chalai Heritage Street Redevelopment Project: A Step Closer to Reality," [date], URL [2] Our Brand Name Media, "Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd Submits Proposal for Chalai Heritage Street Redevelopment," [date], URL
[1] The Chalai Heritage Street Redevelopment project, with its vision to preserved cultural significance and promote business growth in Chalai market, has taken a significant step closer to reality with the submission of a funding proposal to the Centre's Urban Challenge Fund.
[2] Securing the necessary funding could mark the start of sports and economic development in Thiruvananthapuram, as the project's success is expected to boost the city's tourism industry and support local businesses in the long run.
