Major Infrastructure Schemes take off in coimbatore

After an eight-year wait, some major schemes are taking off in the city.

Schemes

Mass transit system and more flyovers

Good drainage, roads and also multi-tier parking facilities

Adequate supply of drinking water


A drinking water scheme for Rs.114 crore and a solid waste management scheme for Rs.92 crore are the ones that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi launched on February 24.

This marks the start of efforts to ensure enough water for another 20 years and sanitation in the city.

But, what the city expects beyond these are infrastructure schemes that will make it more liveable.

Congestion


The congestion in Bangalore and Chennai, two of the main information technology centres of South India, is serving as a lesson for Coimbatore.

The effort now is to provide a number of flyovers and a mass transit system such as the Bus Rapid Transit System.

Vehicles


The bus system is expected to reduce the number of private vehicles on roads by attracting people to it.

The Coimbatore Corporation and transportation experts feel that a single, effective public transport can help eliminate the need for alternative modes.

According to the consultants who made a presentation recently on the bus system, it may not be restricted to the city alone.

The service may even extend to the suburbs that are seen as an extension of the city though they come under other local bodies.

Already some residential associations have called for this form of transportation up to Periyanaickenpalayam (on Mettupalayam Road) that is 20 km north of the city.

Lanes


The system needs exclusive lanes and scope for this is seen on Avanashi Road and Mettupalayam Road, as they are straight stretches.

There is a demand for the system on Tiruchi Road also.

But, the Corporation wants to first take over the maintenance of a number of roads that now belong to the National and State Highways departments.

Junctions



Another area that the Corporation is focussing on is the provision of flyovers at congested junctions.

The consultants have identified five junctions and the need for more is felt, going by the present pace of growth.

A recent meeting on the role of the construction industry, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, pointed out the need for better infrastructure in the city and the outlying areas as more employees were set to stream into information technology firms and various other units that would come up.

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission, under which the schemes are to be implemented, wants these to be implemented over a period of seven years.

The mission period began in the 2005-2006 financial year.

With only six years left for the local body to implement the schemes or lose funds, the city can hope to have most of the planned infrastructure.

The Corporation admits that the mission is the best bet yet to fulfil its promise to provide quality infrastructure such as a good drainage, roads, flyovers and multi-tier parking facilities.

Another key area of focus is improving the supply of drinking water in the city.

The Pilloor Phase II scheme was mooted in 1999 and is set for implementation only now.

But, the Corporation hopes to provide through it another 60 million litres a day (mld).

It already gets 65 mld from the Phase I scheme and over 80 mld from the Siruvani scheme.

Positive development


Another positive development is that water schemes are being implemented for the suburbs that have been reeling under scarcity.

Work on two alternative schemes for a clutch of suburbs south, west and north west of the city have also taken off. The mission provides for the local bodies in the outskirts also to join it under its urban agglomeration component.

Agency



The Corporation says it will act as a nodal agency while the local bodies in the outskirts will have to work for the grants from the Government and arrange for funds for their share of spending as well.

What lends hope of all-round development is that the mission underlines the need for public participation in city planning.

It wants State Governments of cities included in the project to enact a Community Participation Law that provides for drawing up schemes that suit the needs of the people.

Committees


It also wants people's committees to be set up at the ward level.

The Corporation also is clear that a greater say for the public will actually help in identifying solutions for long-pending problems such as the traffic bottleneck at the Kikani underpass or the congestion at traffic signals.