State govt approves Urban Beautification Scheme for Kerala cities

28 Aug 2023 CW Team

In Thiruvananthapuram, the focal points of the city beautification endeavour will include Chalai, Fort, and the corridor extending from Kowdiar to Fort. Initial consultations have taken place between the municipal corporation and the regional town planner's office to craft a comprehensive beautification blueprint for these areas. The proposed enhancements encompass various aspects such as enhancing pedestrian pathways, upgrading street lighting, and reorganising overhead cables.

During the budget speech, Finance Minister K N Balagopal had outlined the intention to establish an enhancement program for all six major municipalities in Kerala. This initiative involves conserving heritage zones and their surroundings, enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, equipping public spaces and recreational zones, and elevating hygiene standards, among other components.

In March, a meeting was convened to deliberate on the scheme, leading to the formulation of a conceptual outline by the chief town planner. This blueprint envisions enhancing the city's visual appeal and aesthetics, ultimately bolstering tourism and overall quality of life. By incorporating design aesthetics and high-quality standards into urban infrastructure, the scheme encompasses a comprehensive approach that engages diverse stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes.

The strategic plan will encompass an overarching city vision, priorities, optimal solutions, considerations for integrating public aspirations, implementation methods, and cost estimates for interventions.

Project execution will be carried out through joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and similar mechanisms.

The 'Urban Rejuvenation and Beautification Scheme,' which was introduced in the state budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, has received preliminary approval from the state government. This initiative will be implemented in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 1 billion from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).In Thiruvananthapuram, the focal points of the city beautification endeavour will include Chalai, Fort, and the corridor extending from Kowdiar to Fort. Initial consultations have taken place between the municipal corporation and the regional town planner's office to craft a comprehensive beautification blueprint for these areas. The proposed enhancements encompass various aspects such as enhancing pedestrian pathways, upgrading street lighting, and reorganising overhead cables.During the budget speech, Finance Minister K N Balagopal had outlined the intention to establish an enhancement program for all six major municipalities in Kerala. This initiative involves conserving heritage zones and their surroundings, enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, equipping public spaces and recreational zones, and elevating hygiene standards, among other components.In March, a meeting was convened to deliberate on the scheme, leading to the formulation of a conceptual outline by the chief town planner. This blueprint envisions enhancing the city's visual appeal and aesthetics, ultimately bolstering tourism and overall quality of life. By incorporating design aesthetics and high-quality standards into urban infrastructure, the scheme encompasses a comprehensive approach that engages diverse stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes.The strategic plan will encompass an overarching city vision, priorities, optimal solutions, considerations for integrating public aspirations, implementation methods, and cost estimates for interventions.Project execution will be carried out through joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and similar mechanisms.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..