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Sep 03
2010
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Blueprint offers passage through ‘Little India’Posted by edwin wang in Untagged |
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THE Little India Project Blueprint, made public last week, has put paid to suspicion and accusations by several quarters.
Among the reasons cited by Hindu rights organisations and the Opposition earlier was that the government did not want stakeholders to know the real plans for the redevelopment of Brickfields.
Revealing the blueprint at a press conference amid the controversy, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan explained that the only reason it was held back was due to negotiations with affected parties.
“There were several outstanding issues and we needed to be sure before making the blueprint public,” he said.
Among the issues were the now settled problem involving restaurant owners of The Pines, which will be torn down to make way for a multi-storey building. It will also house a car park.
And once completed, the nine restaurant owners would be given better facilities and bigger space.
In the meantime, they have agreed to relocate to the Chang Ah Tong food court.
Other facilities that are part of the RM35mil project outlined in the blueprint are a high-end Indian bazaar, souvenir centres, a food court, fruit and flower stalls.
The new-look area will feature an archway located at the tail-end of Jalan Brickfields near Naga restaurant and the Brickfields police station and a fountain at the junction of Jalan Travers and Brickfields.
Also, a three-storey Indian bazaar will be built at the end of Jalan Tun Sambanthan, showcasing tailoring and beauty services, henna painting and everything related to Indian culture.
The entire stretch of Jalan Tun Sambanthan will also be brightened up with Indian-style street lighting fashioned after the kuthu velluku and kolam designs in a hue of colours.
The first fruits of the mega project could be realised with the widening of the inner roads in Brickfields, as well as the beautification of Jalan Berhala.
Once completed, the project will transform this Indian enclave into a cultural showcase reflecting the 1Malaysia concept and boost tourist arrivals to Brickfields.
Source : The Star
