It was in the year 2005 that the then first lady of Thiruvananthapuram City Professor Chandra decided to give justice to the souls which accompanied the human body, the greatest creation of the Almighty, then resolved unanimously to bring out a project, changing the concept of the Thycaud Crematorium. The noble job was entrusted with the M/s. Kumar group. A natural water fall was envisaged in the original project around the Mandapam, where the last rites were done symbolizing the Ganga River flowing from the head of Lord Siva, the Destroyer, according to Hindu Mythology. The draft concept was set, but unfortunately, the project was not implemented since she was out of power.

It was then the worshipful Mayor of Trivandrum City; Sri. Jayanbabu came into limelight, for giving flesh and blood to the noble project. After hectic discussion, the project costs were brought down by excluding the natural water fall in the original project. The project cost was estimated at Rs.3 crores and fortunately, he managed to mobilize a percentage of the fund  from the Government of Kerala through the Capital region development Programme amounting to a tune of Rs.1.75 crores and we were only availed 66 lakhs.

The project then took wings and the tenders were floated. Working at the estimated rates for such heavenly project is very difficult. The worshipful Mayor by means of his influence entrusted the work with a contractor and forced to take up the endeavor. The contractor, Mr. Tilakan decided to take up this work but he was not actually aware of the fact that he had undertaken a very noble assignment for the residents  in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The total land area spans 250 cents and the built in area comes to 5000m2. The various components envisaged in the project were:

1. The main crematorium building named the Santhi Kavadam encompasses two electric furnaces and a reserve place for putting up another furnace.
   
   
2. An RCC roof clad with tiles of the Kerala Model opened on all sides with walls, clad with black granite and floor laid with cut granite rough stones. The open hall symbolizes with the soul free to leave the body from whichever side it prefers and there is a green carpet embedded with best quality turf for the souls to rest upon and to witness the last rites, in a serene environment envisaging that souls are eternal.
   
   
3. The cremation is done in the electric furnace (2 Nos.) installed by Essco Furnaces Pvt. Ltd, incorporating the best technique of total combustion carried out in the primary and secondary combustion chamber. It takes about one and half to two hours for the cremation of the body into ashes. The ashes are collected in urns. The cremation is done by a uniformed man using Electric Power similar to the sacred third eye of Lord Shiva on his forehead.
   
   
4. The ashes in the urns are handed over to the empowered women of the Kudumbasree, dressed in blue, working along with men. The same is handed over to the relatives to conduct more rituals in holy temples rivers or seas. In this process, they play an important part in taking utmost care in the collection, storage and handing over the ash to their relatives.
   
   
5. There is an electric panel room and a separate powerful transformer exclusively for the purpose of cremation.
   
   
6. There is a walkway floored with cut granite rough stones with green carpet on both sides suitably lighted with imported green bodied lights. The spot is called the Smrithi Mandapam, in tune with the  Kerala model with black granite tiles floored which symbolizes with the somber mood  of the one’s relatives to the soul. There is another enclosure to accommodate more people during the time prayers in the Smrithi Mandapam. There is a wall mounted with LCD TV in conjunction with a computer.
   
   
7. A parking area paved with cobbled stones is provided for the vehicles, adjacent to the Smrithi Mandapam .
   
   
8. During the cremation, a lot of gases and particles are emitted. Due justice is given to the atmosphere ultimately to human being, animals, plants etc. but providing an eco-friendly effluent treatment plant. The plant comprises the following components.
   
   

   • There is a scrubber unit tank. From the tank, the effluent passes to another tank. In this tank Sodium Hypochlorite is added into the effluent. The effluents are disinfected and neutralized. After this, treated effluent goes to a settlement chamber and then to the soak pits.
     
     
   • The heavy particles emanated from the burning bodies along with the gas, goes to a tower tank where the heavy particles settle. The effluent gas goes to a wet scrubber system (Venturi Wet Scrubber). Then it passes through the wet scrubber tower system. Hence the soluble emissions and fine particles are also removed. The mist(remains water) is passed through 30 meters height chimney. The gas going out of the chimney is within the pollution Control Limit.
     
     
   • The average quantity of water consumption per day for the plant is 50 liters which is actually the back up water in the plant. The tank for 15 days consumption i.e. 6500 liters is incorporated in the system.
     
     
9. A comfort station is also built within the premises for the public.
   
   
10. There is a conventional crematorium working side by side with the electric crematorium using fire as the Saakshi. The renovation work of this unit has already been done, in tune with the adage “Old is Gold”.
    
    
11. All these  monumental buildings are protected by a  compound wall with cast iron gates at the exits and entrance.

The total cost for this project is 3 crores of which, the work commenced on 19th October 2006 and completed on 25th August 2007. The Worshipful Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Sri. Jayanbabu always long for the projects having unique concepts. This is an ideal place, in which one’s real education actually starts as one poet wrote “ATHMA VIDHYALAYAME AVANIYIL ATHMA VIDHYALAYAME”.

I would like to request the audit department to “let thy swords have a mother’s touch on such unique projects” coming from heaven. Last but not the least, the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram thank the Government of Kerala for their whole hearted corporation in rendering moral support and a small financial assistance to this prestigious projects and further more, the Government of Kerala may please have a paternal approach  for the sustainability of the project . However, the running cost is very high, as this is a service oriented project. Details regarding the operational schedule and the fees are all as given below.

Fees electric crematorium

APL
Rs.1000/- for cremation
Rs. 100/- cleaning etc.
Total Rs 1100/-

BPL
Rs.500/- (for cremation)
Rs.100/- (for cleaning)
Total Rs.600/-

Smrithi Mandapam
Fee for using the Smrithi Mandapam for prayer and using L.C.D T.V FACILITIES Rs.300/- function

Mobile Mortury Van Rs1500/-per day (24Hrs) + Rs 150/- Per each hours after the 24 hours.

Phone Numbers

• Santi Kavadam, Electric Crimetorium - 2323574, 2339977
• Ambulance Service -2336014

Photographs of Electric Crematorium