Can we make GB Road (Gandhi Bazaar Road) & Court Road in Palakkad town into a four lane road with retail shopping arcade on both sides?

I believe GB Road must be the oldest paved road (concrete) in Palakkad town after the city (rather 'town') was formed. Some time back (about 30 years ago), concrete surface of the GB Road was visible in its original shape, ie, like tarmac in an airport with concrete blocks. It must have been built during the British Raj, the surface was very hard and sturdy. GB Road, from Melemuri on the one end and Sulthan Petta Junction on the other end was once the busiest (I think even now it holds the record) roads in Palakkad town.

From Melemuri end to Shakunthala Junction wholesale shopkeepers (or traders) occupy most of the shops on this road. Wholesale shopkeepers of vegetables, fruits, groceries and commodities, textiles, hardware etc occupy this stretch of GB Raoad. From Shakunthala Junction to Sulthan Petta, retailers (textiles, jewelers, hardware, etc) occupy both sides of the road.

Similarly, Court Road from Kotta Maidanam to Victoria College stretch is another important road in Palakkad which did not witness any major changes in the last 30 years (or more). Both sides of the Court Road is occupied by retailers of all products.

I think these roads must be the only major roads of any district in Kerala, which did not change its shape or size and did not witness any (creative) development along side after independence of India except for the few buildings and shops which have come up along the sides. You could find the same foot path with broken slabs, open manholes, plenty of garbage everywhere on the road, lot of dirt and dust as we have seen 30 years before. The only difference between those days and now is that the vehicle population (especially cars) has increased on the roads with almost no parking space available shoppers.

It is high time that Palakkad people need better roads with proper parking facility for having a better retail shopping experience as well as to have an aesthetic look to the town. To have a better and wider GB Road and Court Road with pedestrian walk ways, signal lights, parking facilities, the stake holders on both sides of these roads (businessmen - wholesalers and retailers) have to take initiative and cooperate with the municipal corporation.

Those, who have been to Koyambedu Moffusil Bus Stand in Chennai must have seen huge buildings near it (or just opposite to it). These buildings are built by Corporation of Chennai for whole sale trading of vegetables, fruits, flowers, meat & fish products and commodities. These buildings ensure that the whole sale sellers can put up a shop here and similarly huge lorries come from various parts of Tamil Nadu for delivery of these products do not enter Chennai city, directly go to this place, thus reducing the traffic congestion in the city.

Now, I have mentioned this bring a similar concept in Palakkad too. Municipal Corporation of Palakkad should plan and take initiative in building such facilities separately away from city (somewhere in Kanjikode or Valayar). The wholesalers based in GB Road should be convinced to relocate to this new facility and should be allocated with space in the newly built up area equal to that which they have in GB Road. This will reduce the traffic; especially heave commercial vehicles which bring the goods and smaller commercial goods which take the goods from market.

As a first phase project, a four lane road from Melemuri to Shakunthala Junction should be built on global standards with proper parking facilities and pedestrian walk ways. Simultaneously, modern shops, malls, restaurants should be planned and built on both sides with underground parking facilities and safety measures. The other advantage of this is that the built up area near Valayar / Kanjikode will serve almost the entire (or at least 75% of) Kerala's requirement of vegetables, fruits, meat & fish and commodities generating additional revenue for Palakkad.

Once the first phase project is completed (or before completion), retailers on both sides of GB Road from Shakunthala Junction to the Stadium Bus Stand should be given an option (or priority) to relocate to the newly built first phase area.

In the second phase, four laning, parking facilities, pedestrian walk way, underground parking in new buildings etc, etc., should be built from Shakunthala Junction to Sulthan Petta Junction as similar to first phase. Retailers, occupying these areas should be shifted / given an option shift to the newly built first phase area from Melemuri to Shakunthala Junction.

Parallely or once the second phase is completed, Court Road from Kotta Maidanam to Sulthan Petta Junction should be modernized in the third phase and existing shops on this road should be given option to relocate to GB Road (phase two) stretch from Shakunthala in to Stadium Bus Stand.

Finally, in the fourth phase, from Sulthan Petta Junction to Victoria College should be converted in the same manner and shops (mainly retail) on this stretch should be relocated to the modernized stretch from Court Road to Sulthan Petta Junction.

This is not just a dream, but is a practical and achievable with the support and positive encouragement from each one of Palakkad. Lot of disruptions would happen (to life and business), especially to the business men, but will be only temporary and will benefit each one of Palakkad. Once completed, this would change the shape of Palakkad town and better business activities would be generated.

I am sure that funding will not be an issue, because Ministry of Urban Development of both Kerala and Central Government would certainly help if a proper plan is submitted.

In further extension plans, stretch from Stadium Stand to Chandranagar (Koottupatha) on Coimbatore Road, from GB Road X'ing to Tharekkad on RS Road, Mission School Junction to Shakunthala Junction on TB Road and from Kotta Maidanam to KRSTC Station should also be considered.

Trees should be planted (which is very much needed in this hottest place in Kerala) on the both sides of the roads when development is done and buses and commercial vehicles should not be allowed to enter on these roads.

In the worst scenario, if shop keepers (whole sale) of the stretch from Melemuri to Shakunthala Junction are not willing to relocate to the wholesale commercial hub in Kanjikode / Valayar, they should be allocated with space in the stretch from Stadium Stand to Chandra Nagar on the Coimbatore Road.