Kozhikode Corporation discusses TOD for the city

KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode Corporation Council will continue to discuss the proposed transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for the city as part of its campaign to be included in the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation’s (AMRUT) Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment.

At the council’s emergency meeting on Wednesday, Gireesh Kumar, Deputy Town Planning Officer, Local Self Government Department Planning, presented the plan and outlined the modifications required to the building regulations in order for TOD to be implemented. The city’s Town Planning department has suggested creating TOD zones 500 metres away from light rail or monorail stations. Kumar claimed that TOD would improve commuting by reducing traffic.

Footpaths and cycle lanes will be built on both sides of the road because pedestrians are given priority in this type of development, and the light metro or monorail will pass through the middle, leaving plenty of room for the motor vehicles to pass. If the buildings on the sides of the street agree to let people use their front space, they will be granted a number of benefits. Parking space for a building can be created within a 500-metre radius.

At the meeting, the idea of transferable development rights was also discussed, which allows a person to swap one piece of property for another for the sake of public development. It was also decided that the council would buy land owned by the Housing Board close to a medical college at the price set by the government to construct houses for the landless under the PMAY-LIFE (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) initiative.