Coimbatore, which has a population of more than 21 lakh, needs a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). With growing population, number of vehicles and economic activity, better public transport system is a need of the city. This is one of the demands of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, to Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Chamber president D. Nandakumar pointed out that in 2013 the city had more than one lakh registered vehicles. It was centrally located with Tirupur, Pollachi, Mettupalayam and Palakkad within 40 km radius. Coimbatore was a transportation hub too as National Highways 544, 181 and 83 passed through it.
With expanding economic activity, transport requirements of the city were growing. Even smaller cities such as Kochi had implemented Metro Rail and Kozhikode was studying the feasibility for MRTS.
“We appeal to you to take up a feasibility survey for MRTS in Coimbatore as it will help ease traffic congestion,” the chamber president said.
The Minister who was in the city recently promised that he would look into it.
National Highway 83 (Dindigul to Sathyamangalam) passed through Coimbatore. The Central Government should widen the road into a four-lane one. Though the proposal was included in the annual plan three years ago, it had not been implemented. If the road was made into a four-lane one, container movement (for transport of goods for exports and imports) to Thuthukudi would become easier and Coimbatore’s connectivity to the southern districts would improve, Mr. Nandakumar said.
Similarly, the bypass road from Neelambur to Madukkarai was a two-lane one and it should be widened into a six lane road.
