SCTL seeks central funding for Chalai heritage project
SCTL, the project's implementing agency, submitted a proposal seeking around Rs 60 crore from the Urban Challenge Fund. SCTL estimates indicate that work on the main street of Chalai will commence within three months of fund approval. The preliminary rounds of discussions have already been completed with the ministry of urban affairs.
A senior SCTL official said, "Chalai heritage project is a long-cherished vision.
We are now in an advanced stage, and with the support of the tourism and public works departments, we expect to move forward once central funding is approved. This redevelopment will transform Chalai into a vibrant heritage street while boosting local commerce and tourism," he said.
The project, initially launched in 2018, was modelled on Kozhikode's SM Street and aimed to convert the historic market into a pedestrian-friendly corridor, complete with umbrella-style canopies, uniform heritage arches, tiled footpaths, underground wiring, LED lighting, Wi-Fi, graffiti related to heritage and landscaped seating areas.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Phase I, which includes revamping eight feeder roads leading to the market, is nearing completion. With total road-upgrade costs projected at Rs 30 crore, around Rs 15 crore has already been spent for Phase I. Other phases, including the main arterial street and a proposed multi-level car park on corporation land, remain stalled for lack of capital.
Tourism department, which earlier pledged funding along with the PWD, has not yet convened the stakeholders' meeting.
The meeting, expected to be chaired by minister P A Mohamed Riyas, will determine the final blueprint and inter-departmental coordination.
Merchant groups have expressed frustration at stalled work, poor roads and shrinking footfalls. "We have waited for years to see Chalai get the attention it deserves," said Salim P of the Chalai Traders Association. "If done properly, the project will enhance business and attract more visitors," he added.
SCTL expects that once seed funding is approved and tourism-PWD coordination is finalised, infrastructure upgrades, including pedestrian corridors, drainage, signage and heritage enhancements, will progress rapidly.
SCTL is also advancing other initiatives, including Palayam-Ayyankali Hall nightlife stretch and Connemara Market redevelopment, but has faced delays due to cost escalation and community opposition. At Connemara Market, around 90% of traders have been evicted while the nightlife corridor between Palayam and Ayyankali Hall is scheduled to open in Aug.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Tasmac to start transfer counselling for 24,000 staff
CHENNAI: For the first time since it became the sole retail vendor of alcohol in the state in 2003, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has commenced work for a state-wide transfer counselling to rationalise the deployment of its roughly 24,000 sales staff in the 4,826 retail outlets it runs. Tasmac officials said the intent behind the move is to streamline the operations through effective deployment of staff based on the sales volume of the outlets and to prevent scope for irregularities, especially by those working in the same outlets for several years. The sales staff include salesmen and supervisors. A senior official told TNIE the shops have been divided into four categories based on their daily sales volume - above Rs 10 lakh, between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, and below Rs 2 lakh. 'So far, staff transfers were done within the same district. But we found that some salesmen have been working in the same shop for over 10 years, mainly due to the influence they wield because of their political or union affiliations. This has led to bribery and favouritism,' the official said. The official said Tasmac has decided to transfer those who have been in the same outlet continuously for more than 10 years. 'We are going to conduct state-wide counselling for staff transfers for the first time since 2003,' the official added. T Dhanasekaran, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees Association, affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress, urged the state to first frame service rules before conducting the state-wide counselling. 'We have been working for more than 20 years, but there is no clear service rule, no promotion, proper week-off, medical allowance or regular wage revision,' he said.
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Rs 2580000000000: US's treasury overflowing with billions in tax revenue! Here's how Trump administration plans to use money..., Americans to get...
Escalating his tariff offensive against India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped an additional 25 per cent duty–doubling it to 50 per cent–on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. The move that is likely to hit sectors such as textiles, marine and leather exports hard was slammed by India as 'unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable'. How much has the US government collected so far this year? The Treasury Department reported that in the last month, the US government collected almost $30 billion in tariff revenue in July, a 242% increase from July of last year, reported CNN. The government has earned $100 billion in revenue from tariffs since April, when the president instituted a 10% tariff on nearly all goods and many other even higher tariffs. This is three times more than was collected in the previous year in the same four months. So the question arises: what will the Trump administration do with all this money? As reported by CNN, Trump has offered two possible options for the tariff revenue: Either to reduce the government's multi-trillion-dollar debt or to send 'tariff rebate checks' back to the American people. 'The purpose of what I'm doing is primarily to pay down debt, which will happen in very large quantity,' Trump was quoted as saying by CNN. 'But I think there's also a possibility that we're taking in so much money that we may very well make a dividend to the people of America,' he added. How will tariff revenues affect the federal budget deficit? According to CNN reports, neither of those plans has come to fruition – at least not at this time. So, many Americans may feel that the billions of dollars coming in from tariffs, mostly paid upfront by U.S.-based businesses importing foreign goods, are sitting idle. There is a lot more going on behind the scenes. The government collects revenue from various sources, such as taxes and tariffs. The revenue is all sent into the general fund, which is managed by the Treasury Department. The Treasury calls this general fund 'America's checkbook.' The Treasury Department then spends that money on the government's obligations, including payments such as Social Security. When the money raised by the government does not equal the expenses it has, resulting in a budget deficit, it needs to borrow money to cover the expenses it cannot pay with tax revenue. The national debt is now exceeding $36 trillion, and the debt is increasing. Many economists are concerned about the increasing debt and think it could be impacting economic growth. This is because the government, like an individual, is also required to pay interest on the money borrowed. The more it borrows, the larger its interest obligations grow—adding another monetary impediment that forces money away from critical public investments, like upgrading roadways and infrastructure. While the tariff revenue isn't enough to plug the $1.4 trillion budget deficit the government is facing this fiscal year, it has helped close the gap somewhat. Therefore, the government is borrowing a bit less than it would in the absence of these tariff collections. If Congress agrees to Trump's proposal to use tariffs to send 'rebate checks' to Americans—an idea supported by a bill introduced last week by Republican senator Josh Hawley—it would probably create a budget hole, Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics for the Budget Lab at Yale, and a former economist in the Biden White House said, reported CNN.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's additional 25% tariffs may dent India's FY26 growth by 0.4%
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Economy Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump has imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India and economist feel the move could dent the India's GDP growth in FY26 by 0.4 per Badhan, Economics Specialist at Bank of Baroda , told ANI, "We had initially priced in approx. 0.2 per cent impact (on GDP growth) of 25-26 per cent tariffs imposed by the US on imports from India. The additional 25 per cent hike will come into effect after 21 days. During this time or in the coming months, there is a likelihood that lower rates may be negotiated."She added that depending on the final trade agreement, the total impact of these tariffs on GDP growth may range between 0.2-0.4 per cent. Sectors likely to be affected include garments, precious stones, electronics, pharma, auto parts, and MSMEs."There appears to be downside risk to our growth forecast of 6.4-6.6 per cent if lower rates are not negotiated," she move has also triggered serious concerns among Indian exporters and trade experts. The fresh tariff has taken the total US import duty on Indian goods to 50 per cent, making Indian exports significantly more expensive in the American move, announced through an executive order on Wednesday (US time), is in response to India continuing its import of oil from executive order by Trump stated that, "I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent".Ajay Bagga, a Banking and Market Expert, told that the steep tariff is a major blow. "India is now hit with 50 per cent tariffs, but frankly, once it crossed 25 per cent, it didn't matter. It could be 1,000 per cent or 5,000 per cent, here's no trade possible anymore," he pointed out that with Christmas orders ready and shipments already prepared, the move hits exporters hard. "If USD 1 billion worth of textile exports are halted, it directly impacts around 100,000 workers."Agneshwar Sen, Trade Policy Leader at EY India, called the additional tariff stated, "Political differences are best resolved through mutual dialogue and established forums, not through such measures. I remain hopeful that the Government of India will continue to engage and seek a balanced resolution with the U.S," he Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) also raised President, S C Ralhan, said, "Nearly 55 per cent of our shipments to the US market are directly affected. The 50 per cent tariff puts Indian exporters at a 30-35 per cent competitive disadvantage."He added that many buyers are now putting export orders on hold due to the higher landed costs."For MSMEs, absorbing this cost is not viable. This could force many to lose long-standing clients," he the executive order imposes tariffs on most Indian imports, some items have been excluded under Annex II of Executive Order 14257. These include certain mineral substances, metallurgical ores, fuels, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceutical India has clarified that it will continue to buy oil based on its own strategic tensions between the two countries now appear to be escalating, and the coming weeks may be crucial as both sides look to negotiate possible relief.
