Welcome 2025: What Thiruvananthapuram wants

What Thiruvananthapuram wants according to a few residents of the capital city

The New Year has dawned. As Thiruvananthapuram continues to grow by leaps and bounds, a few residents of the city talk about their hopes for the city’s future, touching upon subjects such as infrastructure improvement, environment conservation and cultural development.

With the Smart City project on, overhead lines are being laid underground in some stretches of the city. If that is implemented everywhere we will get a cityscape free of those lines and cables, which is also a photographer’s dream. Meanwhile, I don’t wish to see any more of those unused constructions, like the foot overbridges at East Fort and Pattom. I hope the authorities find a solution for the unscientific traffic arrangement along the NH bypass, especially at the accident-prone Thiruvallam stretch. We also need more parking guards and stringent action against unauthorised parking. The city’s circular buses have changed the face of public transport; that can be augmented by proper display of the bus routes at bus stands. On the cultural front, I want Manaveeyam Veedhi to be back as a cultural corridor. It was a preposterous move to convert that small stretch into a nightlife destination. The plan to set up a permanent theatre complex to host the prestigious International Film Festival of Kerala remains on paper and I wish to hear the last word on that.

Syed Shiyaz Mirza, Blogger, Google trusted photographer

We need more open mics, musical gatherings and concerts to support independent music and musicians. This wish comes from the current scenario of streaming services extorting artists all over the world and the whole AI wave where we are struggling to value art. These avenues will help new as well as existing creators to feel connected with the audience.

Varkey, Composer

I want Thiruvananthapuram to evolve into a globally recognised destination through strategic city branding — it needs a unique visual identity, that fuses tradition and innovation. The city has immense potential to host world-class cultural and heritage events, like the Biennale, which would draw global attention. Also, as an emerging IT hub and home to Technopark, the city should host more tech festivals like Huddle Global, focussing on innovations, hackathons, and exhibitions that can position the city as a technology powerhouse. Initiatives like these would enhance the city’s vibrancy and global identity, attract investments, drive development, and bring more business opportunities. We need a blend of culture and technology to establish Thiruvananthapuram as a thriving hub for tourism, commerce and creativity.

Ajay S Nair, Brand strategist and CEO, Fresh Mind Ideas