French lending hand to Kochi for sustainable development initiatives

KOCHI: Lisie Talbot Barre, the Consul Generale of France, after meeting with M Anilkumar, Mayor of Kochi, said that more technical and financial help will be provided for sustainable development and cultural projects that the Kochi Corporation is implementing by France. The Consul Generale promised help in implementing an environment-friendly mobility project for the city, in collaboration with the corporation, along with offering technical assistance to deal with plastic waste. She stated that sustainable urban transport projects will be a focus area.

The Alliance Francaise in Thiruvananthapuram is all set to collaborate with Arts Space Kochi, a project launched by the corporation with a goal to promote art in public spaces in the city. Under this collaboration, cultural projects and events that the Alliance Francaise organises will be extended to Kochi, including art- and film-related events. A plan for partnership between educational institutions here and in France is also under discussion to promote exchange programmes between students in schools and colleges.

The Kochi corporation is currently working on the north-south railway corridor project in the city with help from the French Development Agency (AFD). This corridor between the North and South railway stations has been designed to be pedestrian-friendly and is expected to facilitate movement of non-motorised transport.

The significance of integrating the various modes of transport in Kochi and rationalising bus routes was also discussed at the meeting held where, Bruno Bosle, AFD Country Director and Eva Martin, Director of the Alliance Francaise in Thiruvananthapuram, were also present. Anilkumar informed that some of these projects are likely to make head way before the Urban Mobility India conference takes off in Kochi in October this year.