Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

“Consult people; then finalise works” city pulse

— Photo:R. Ashok

In a mess: Chaotic conditions prevail at the Mainguard Gate traffic junction in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: With the Tiruchi Corporation poised to get some capital infusion under various development projects of the State and Central governments over the next one year, priorities of the civic body have come in for scrutiny again among civic activists and welfare organisations.

It has been common plaint of residents and welfare organisations that the corporation hardly takes them into confidence when major development projects are initiated. The last serious discussion with stakeholders comprising representatives of residents and service organisations was held by the corporation when a City Development Plan was prepared a few years back. But nothing concrete has come out of the “vision document” till now.

The corporation is expecting about Rs.1,000 crores under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) next financial year. Even before that materialises, it was expected to get about Rs.100 crores from the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Project. This apart, an integrated solid waste management project for Tiruchi and a few other neighbouring urban local bodies are expected to be implemented at an estimate of Rs.70 crores. The Union government assistance is also expected under another project to establish decentralised waste water treatment plants in various parts of the city.

Though corporation officials were preparing proposals for most of these projects, there has not been any attempt so far towards a consultative exercise, though the consultant appointed to oversee TURIP is expected to meet stakeholders before finalising the works to be taken up in the city.

“It is essential that the corporation adopt a consultative approach before finalising the development works to be taken up under major projects. It could even be a participatory approach as there will be donors and residents willing to contribute for development of the city,” feels N. Ramakrishnan, civic activist and founder MGR Narpani Mandram.

A chat with a cross-section of representations of service organisations brought forth a slew of suggestions, which they believe, should be priorities for the corporation.

Topping the list is sanitation. Improving road /traffic infrastructure and the drainage system come next. “Sanitation, no doubt, should be the priority of the corporation, given the sorry state of affairs in the city,” observes Sakunthala Srinivasan, president, Payaneetalar Iyyakkam. Apart from strengthening the system of garbage collection, sanitation in places of public congregation such as the Central and Chathram Bus Stands and the city markets needs urgent attention, she says. The city badly needs some good toilets, with proper maintenance, adds Mr. Ramakrishnan.

The corporation should think ahead keeping in mind the requirements of increasing population and burgeoning colonies when working out plans for strengthening the road infrastructure, say many civic activists. It is time the city got new ring and links roads, says G. Subramanian, president, District Exnora.

For instance, the corporation could think of a semi-ring road to connect Karumandapam, Srinivasa Nagar and Kuzhumani and another to link Devadhanam, Varaganeri, Melakalkandarkottai, Ponmalaipatti, Edamalaipattipudur and Dheeran Nagar, he says.

The banks of rivers and major drainage channels including Koraiyar, Uyyakondan, Kudamuritti, and Rettaivaikkal could be strengthened so as to accommodate traffic. The city’s traffic woes could be solved by providing such alternative routes to the existing three main arterial routes of Thillai Nagar, Woraiyur and Palakkarai in the city.

Some others feel that the corporation should think of developing a road between East Boulevard Road to the Chennai By-pass Road/Thanjavur Road. The need for pedestrian sub-ways and fly-overs in places such as the highly congested West Boulevard Road is highlighted by many residents’ organisations. A separate bus stand for omni buses and improving the traffic junctions in the city are other major demands. A proposal on construction of a fly-over along the Mainguard Gate has failed to take off. Neither has the corporation managed to get through its plans for pedestrian sub-ways. The Exnora has been pressing for green tracks to provide the much needed lung space for the city, a demand supported by many other organisations. “It is high time that the corporation turned attention towards environmental pollution and protecting the cities resources,” says Mr.Ramakrishnan.

Another prominent compliant from residents’ organisations has been neglect of the newly added colonies in the city suburbs. Despite the oft repeated promise to focus on suburbs, colonies languish without proper amenities including roads, drainages and lighting. “The newly added colonies require urgent attention. Solid waste management is also poor in the suburbs,” says C.Balasubramanian, secretary, District Exnora.

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