Neglected Kochi parks to turn ‘green spots’ thanks to Metro

Kochi: Rusted slides, swings with grass and plastic wastes eating into walkways. This image of the small parks in the city will change soon. Thanks to the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, which is in the process of identifying and revamping such neglected parks across the city to turn them into green spots.

It has already got the nod of the Cochin Corporation to give a facelift to Kunnara Park near the Vytilla Hub. “A '2 crore project has been drawn up to set up community gardens, lawns and landscaping at the Kunnara Park.

We’re also mulling over constructing a walkway from the park to the Vytilla Mobility Hub. Simultaneously flowering plants and saplings will be planted along the SA Road,” metro sources said.
The idea of revamping parks into green spots was thought up after KMRL found it impractical to plant tree saplings in the city due to lack of space.

Hence, it is forming small green spots at various places to compensate for the loss of trees cut to facilitate the Kochi metro project. “We’re also in talks with the GCDA to give us sanction to revamp the various small parks like the one in Panampilly Nagar.

The redemption of the Subash Park at Menaka is also on our minds and so we’ve renewed talks with the corporation on the issue,” they said. Earlier,Metro authorities had announced that they would plant 5000 trees in various parts of the city.

Nearly 1500 trees were planted at the HMT Kalamassery premises. The metro authorities plan to grow another 1500 at Brahmapuram.