Mahatma Gandhi Road (Kochi)

Mahatma Gandhi Road
Location: Kochi
Length: 4 km (2 mi)

Mahatma Gandhi Road,[1] popularly known as M. G. Road, is the main artery as well as the commercial high street of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. The road lies north-south with its boundaries at the Venduruthy bridge, Thevara in the south, and the Madhava Pharmacy Junction in the north, where it intersects the Banerji Road. The road was earlier part of the NH 47A (Old Highway) and was later handed over to the Corporation of Cochin. The highway was earlier known as Seventy Feet road. The total distance of the road is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi).

M.G Road Medical Trust Junction

.

M. G. Road is especially noted as the 'lifestyle district'[2] of the city of Kochi. On the sides of the road are the largest textile shops, as well as the largest jewellery outlets in the city. It was recently ranked one of the busiest and most expensive in the state of Kerala.

 Alongside of the road, several famous retail stores, hospitals, banks, leading hotels, multiplexes and industries like Cochin Shipyard[3] etc. are located.

History

During days of British Raj, the Ernakulam city was part of British Cochin though several institutions of Kochi Kingdom are located here. The oldest arterial road of the city was Chittoor Road built by Kochi Rajas connecting South Railway Station to Chittoor Temple in Pachalam. As this road donot connect to southern side of the city, particularly to Fort Kochi, the British Resident felt need of another major road that connects to south. In the year 1920, Sir Robert Bristow- the Chief Engineer who conceived the new port of Kochi, announced his plans to create a new island from sea between Ernakulam Mainland and Fort Kochi island and transfer the existing port to the new island. He visioned the urgent need of new road connecting mainland and new port island for transferring materials and in future cargo requirements.

in 1923 plans for new road was finalized and works was started. The new road was seventy feet in width and hence named as Seventy Feet road and opened to public in 1925. The road connected to newly formed port island- Willingdon through a bridge and merged with Chitoor Road near Kacheripady where the Central City offices of British Residency were located.

Since then this road played an important role in the history of modern Cochin which several landmarks located this stretch. Today its one of the most important commercial road of the city and one of the most congested roads in the state.

In year 1972, the road was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Road, in honour of father of the nation

Junctions

MG Road is considered to be CBD of Kochi city with several top retails stores and offices of leading corporate houses located on both the side of the road. The MG Road connects Marine Drive (through Banerjee Road) and Chittoor Road (at Kacheripady) at North to Thevara at south passing through 10 junctions.

 Intersection of M G Road with the Important S.A.Road also happens at Pallimukku Junction.

It goes from Thevera to Willingdon Island via Venduthurthy Bridge and join with NH47A

Commercial

MG Road is a high end commercial street. The most important corporate house located in this stretch is Cochin Shipyard, one of the largest shipyards in India, located near Harbour side. Several top companies has their offices in this stretch and most of the banks in India maintains their regional offices or main branches in this road. The stretch also houses more than a dozen premium hotels as well as several famed jewellery brands. Some of the leading commercial landmarks are

Airline offices

Most of the airlines has their offices in Atlantis area. The area is famous for several leading travel agents, holiday companies and sight-seeing tour firms. The Air India Building located in Atlantis Junction is a landmark. Other major Airline/Tour offices are Sri Lankan, Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, Sitas, ITC, GTL, SOTC, Cox & Kings etc.

Jewellery

Kochi is one of the most important gold shopping centres in India accounting to about 7 percent gold sales in the country Jewelries include Alapatt Heritage, Alappat Fashion jeweler, Alappat Arcade, House of Alappat, Francis Alukkas, Kalyan Jewelers, Bhima, Malabar Gold, Tanishq, Geeri pai, Thribhuvandas Bhimji Zaveri, Vanitha, Parakatt jewellers,Paul Alukkas.

Banks

Almost all national banks maintains its regional or main branches in this road. Regional offices of State Bank of India, State Bank of Travancore, ICICI Bank, Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank and Punjab National Bank etc. are located here. Branches of international banks like Standard Chartered, Citi Bank, HSBC, Oman Bank etc. are also located here

Hospitals

Education

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kochi: M G Road, Kochi Tourist Places to Visit for Shopping".
  2. ↑ "MG Road, Shopping area, Ernakulam, Kerala, India - Kerala Tourism".
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Cochin Shipyard : ISO 9001 Certified Shipyard of the Millenium".

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 28, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.