Candidates contesting in the Lok Sabha elections from Coimbatore constituency assured here on Saturday that if they were elected they would focus on development of infrastructure in the district during the next five years.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore organised a “Meet Your Candidates” event here on Friday.
R.R. Balasundharam, president of the Chamber, said that the district is growing, industries are increasing and population is also on the rise. The district needs better infrastructure to support this growth. The Chamber and other industry associations here have prepared a list of the district’s demands, with focus on infrastructure, and given it to all the candidates. This included projects that should be taken up by the Central and State Governments and the local body.
C.R. Swaminathan, president of Residents’ Awareness Association of Coimbatore, said that Coimbatore requires better rail and road connectivity.
Coimbatore needs the western bypass and links roads. It needs more trains and expansion of the airport.
A study should be commissioned at the earliest on rapid transport system for the city.
A.P. Nagarajan of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said that Coimbatore provides the peaceful atmosphere that industrial growth requires. The industries here are the major suppliers for the special schemes of the State Government and the district has a large number of micro and small-scale units. If elected as MP he will strive to develop Coimbatore as a leading industrial city, he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan said that the country will not face power shortage if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister.
The Central grid needs to be strengthened. Mr. Radhrakrishnan said he would get adequate funds from the Centre to implement the Avanashi – Athikadavu scheme and ensure that Coimbatore gets a night train to Bangalore and an additional night train to Chennai, develop a smart city here, and widen the National Highways roads here into four-lane ones.
P.R. Natarajan, nominee of Communist Party of India – Marxist, said that the focus for the next five years would be on development of the micro, small and medium-scale enterprises if he is elected as MP. He will also focus on improving rail connectivity to Coimbatore and work towards a metro rail project for Coimbatore.
Parking facilitiesK. Ganesh Kumar of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said he would work for improving road connectivity and the infrastructure needs of the district, develop multi-level parking facilities and meet the industry representatives regularly.
Congress nominee R. Prabhu said that he would focus on expanding the Information Technology park here, and work for a special project (on the public private partnership mode) to improve power supply.
According to Pon Chandran of Aam Aadhmi Party, he will focus on reviving River Noyyal and improving the ground water level here. Shortage of power is a problem to the industries and the power policy needs to be reviewed to ensure uninterrupted power supply and equal distribution of the power available.
