labels: economy - general
Restoration of two hallmarks in Kochinews
James Paul
08 April 2002
Kochi: A comprehensive developmental process intended to give a facelift to the city will get under way soon with the district administration unveiling plans for the restoration of two hallmarks - the General Hospital and Maharajas College - situated adjacent to each other.

Ernakulam district collector Gyanesh Kumar said the two projects will kick off a larger process aimed at the overall development of Kochi. About the urgent need to restore the government-run General Hospital, he said the hospital, which is one of the oldest and largest in the state, is also one of the most ill equipped and has been languishing in a rundown condition for years.

In the first phase of the hospital renovation, to be completed in 10 months, a two-storey building with a total area of 50,000 sq ft will be built. It will house the trauma-care unit, diagnostic centre, cancer-care unit, ophthalmology centre, Cobalt and X-ray units and a police aid post that ensures 24-hour police assistance.

Comprising many buildings spread over an area of 7.5 acres and with a bed capacity of 800, the hospital currently lacks essential facilities like trauma-care and cancer-care, which were not implemented due to paucity of funds, Kumar said. Some buildings in the compound will have to be demolished to facilitate the new buildings.

The renovation work was prepared by Kitco. The project envisages a master plan for the hospital, consisting of two three-storey buildings and a seven-storey block. Kerala Minister for Health P Sankaran inaugurated the Rs 8.5-crore project on 8 April.

The grand-old Maharaja College of Kerala is all set to receive a fillip with the implementation of the Rs 2-crore Heritage Protection Project, aimed at restoring its lost glory and architectural splendour. Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony, a former student of the prestigious institution, inaugurated the project at the college centenary auditorium on 8 April.

The restoration, which will be completed in four phases, will concentrate more on maintenance of the original buildings that are constructed on the colonial architecture style. The project will be implemented under the auspices of the College Development Committee with the full co-operation of past and present students.

The first phase will concentrate on the facade of the college, which houses the Economics block, English block, the general library and the new block, Kumar said. The project cost of the first phase is estimated at Rs 26 lakh and it will be completed in six months.

 search domain-b
  go
 
Restoration of two hallmarks in Kochi