Thiruvananthapuram gets twin Transit Oriented Corridors

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, has unveiled a plan to establish two transit-oriented development (TOD) corridors as part of its draft master plan. The proposed corridors, namely the old NH-47 and NH bypass, aim to promote mixed land use, enhance urban life quality, and foster planned and sustainable urban growth centers.

Under the plan, flexible floor area ratio (FAR) will be implemented to facilitate the integration of land use and transportation planning. This approach seeks to create strategic communities with high-density mixed land-use, offering citizens access to open, green public spaces while optimizing transportation facilities.

In the designated TOD zones, encompassing a width of 250 meters on either side of the corridors, a reassignment of the hierarchy for FAR is proposed. This strategic move is expected to provide the government with the opportunity to allocate optimal use of FAR throughout the city and leverage planning tools such as transferable development right (TDR) projects.

The choice of the old NH-47 corridor stems from its concentration of job centers, commercial hubs, educational institutions, and medical facilities. In contrast, the NH bypass corridor stands out due to its IT hubs and a large workforce, making it an ideal location for fostering walkable communities and cultivating a live-work relationship.