Be it a flyover, Metrorail, or a new road in Coimbatore, the citizens will now put forth their views right from the designing of the project. As many as 30 industrial and trade bodies, voluntary organisations, non-governmental organisations, citizen forums, corporates and individuals have come together to revive and strengthen Coimbatore Citizen’s Council.
The council will focus on infrastructure projects that are proposed and those required for the city.
It will form a group of experts, including urban planners, and present its suggestions and views on these projects.
Initially, it will be on Avinashi road (whether a Metrorail or Expressway is feasible or both), Ukkadam flyover (extending it beyond the toll gate), redesigning the Gandhipuram flyover, and the Eastern Bypass from Neelambur to Narasimhanaikenpalayam.
The council will engage with the government departments concerned, study the plans, submit their suggestions, and pursue the recommendations.
Representatives of the council told presspersons here on Saturday that it would not hesitate to invest in studies to present the right suggestions to the Government and if there are flawed designs from the Government for a project, will look at legal and other options to ensure that it is not implemented.
“Our approach will be to look at higher compensation or concessions to facilitate land acquisitions, get experts views, hold discussions with local stakeholders, and present a common view to the Government,” said C.R. Swaminathan, one of the members of the council.
The need to revive the council was felt as there is so much of discussion about the low use of Gandhipuram flyover and the amount spent on it. This should not be repeated.
“We know our city, we know our needs better than experts from other cities. Coimbatore has waited long enough. We want a planned city now,” added Vanitha Mohan, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore.
So far, individual associations submitted suggestions and requests for better infrastructure and it would mostly be representations. Now, the council will take up each project, study the details, and ensure that the views of the citizens are incorporated, they added.
