Portion of Kohima town wears a new look with the ‘Pop Up Street Space’ in the Supermarket lane from Razhu Point to Local Ground North Gate on November 14.
Kohima Smart City converts parking space into ‘Pop Up Street Space’
Kohima, November 14 (MExN): In continuation of the ‘Streets for People Challenge’, the Kohima Smart City organized another ‘Pop Up Street Space’ in the Supermarket lane from Razhu Point to Local Ground North Gate on November 14 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The lane which is usually busy and packed with taxis and parked vehicles with little space for pedestrians, was notified ‘no entry’ for vehicles for the day.
All activities and events were carried out observing all SOPs related to COVID including sanitisation of pavements and seating areas every hour and ensuring wearing of masks by vendors, visitors and pedestrians, Kovi Meyase, CEO, Kohima Smart City Development Limited informed.
‘Streets for People Challenge’ was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to inspire cities to create walking friendly streets through quick measures and to reimagine their streets as public spaces through the lens of economic regeneration, safety and child friendly interventions with inclusive designing to ensure a green recovery from COVID-19.
The Open Street campaign is being organized around Kohima town as per the directive of the Ministry to create awareness on ‘safe and healthy streets’ and to test quick, innovative and low-cost interventions using elements such as planters, seaters, barricades, signages, paints, makeshift play equipments, and by engaging with the community through events and campaigns.
In a move to create awareness on the need for judicious sharing of street space to encourage for walking and cycling and the need to carve out space for citizens including the aged, children and the differently abled, Kohima Smart City is reimagining of Kohima streets by temporarily converting parking spaces into ‘Pop up Street Spaces’ for citizens, the CEO stated.
In the longer term, the MoHUA is encouraging cities to convert these temporary interventions into permanent ones, he added.
The day’s activities included sale of street food, organic vegetables and flowers, live music and a ‘Frozen’ theme photobooth for children in addition to the normal business activity along the lane.
The event was supported by Youth Connect, Nagaland, an organization comprising of young and enthusiastic individuals.
Members include the reigning Miss Nagaland 2019-20, Vikuonuo Sachu, Mr Kohima 2019-20 Kevingunyu Mere who with their friends were seen assisting with arrangements and waiting on customers.
