Multiple delights await Kochiites

Kochiites will soon have four brand new public spaces along its most popular walkway. Come August and Marine Drive will spot two sea view towers, a food court and the Kettuvalam Palam (Houseboat Bridge).

The two sea view towers will come up along the newly extended portion of the Marine Drive stretching up to the Goshree Bridge. The Kettuvallam Palam will be constructed in such a way that the portion at the centre is left open. The two towers will be constructed here. The bottom of the tower will spot restaurants and other amenities like bathrooms, kiosks and so on.

The visitors will be able to climb to the very top of the tower and get the view of the backwaters and beyond. The food court too will be along the length of the walkway. It will be an open food court, again to make the most of the beauty of the waters.

“The structures are part of our efforts to promote tourism in the city. One of the towers is in its final stages, the other is almost half done. The Kettuvalam Palam has also been constructed. The food court will be given away for lease. We will be opening the whole structure along with the walkway by August,” said GCDA Chairman, N Venugopal.

The whole structure along with the 1.5 metre-long extended walkway comes at a cost of `7 crores for the GCDA. This includes lighting facilities along the length of the walkway, remote controlled musical systems at suitable points and other basic facilities.

Apart from this, the GCDA will soon float tenders for laser light-cum-musical water facility at Rajendra Maidan. The facility will include a dancing musical water fountain show.

After the musical water fountain show there will be a laser light show. The laser light show looks at making fluorescent structures in mid-air, short laser light films and cartoons on a screen of water formed by the musical fountain.

The facility will be charged between ` 50- `100 for a show of one hour duration. The whole facility is expected to cost under `3 crores for the GCDA. The structure is expected to come up in a few months' time.