CM Pinarayi Vijayan opens SM Street 2.0

Kozhikode: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan opened the renovated SM Street here on Saturday. “The renovation or the beautification works should not just be limited to SM Street. Instead, more such historically prominent spots must get a facelift, retaining the heritage," he said.  He appreciated restriction on traffic through SM Street to allow visitors to walk freely and enjoy its beauty. A video presented at the ceremony featured the history of the SM Street. 

Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan criticised traders on the warpath against the traffic ban saying they were going to be the biggest beneficiaries of the renovation, as it would attract more shoppers.  "The street in the coming days will witness more beautification," he said. Legislators Dr M.K. Muneer, Pradeep Kumar, V.K.C. Mammed Koya, Purushan Kadalundi, District Panchayath president Babu Parassery and city police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar were present. 

District collector U.V. Jose, who presented a detailed project report, said it was completed in 173 days, much before the deadline, spending Rs 6.26 crore. Other historic spots like Gujarati street, silk street, Kuttichira will soon be part of a tourism circuit - spice route.  SM Street merchants put forward the idea some 30 years back due to frequent fires. As a security measure, nine fire hydrant valves have been installed here. Under the SM Street Heritage Project, the drainage was renovated, new washrooms and toilets built, and put up street lights, seating facilities, a music system and lengthy walls decorated with various reliefs speaking about the speciality of Kozhikode.