When Coimbatore Corporation starts improving the areas around lakes as part of the Smart Cities initiative, it will develop a 33-km track from Narasampathy tank to Singanallur tank for non-motorised transport.
Most of the 33 km is expected to be along the tank bunds, except for a few stretches - from Sungam Junction to Singanallur Tank, from Selvachinthamani Tank to Ukkadam Big Tank and from Kumarasamy Tank to Selvachinthamani Tank.
Except for the Sungam Junction to Singanallur Tank stretch, the others are along the Corporation roads, which the civic body will develop.
For the Sungam Junction to Singanallur Tank stretch, the Corporation says it has written to the National Highway authorities for permission. However, the Highways officials here say the civic body should get permission from the Highways Ministry to develop such a path along the National Highways road - however short the distance might be. “We have not received any clear proposal from the Corporation. So we do not know exactly the plans of the local body. However, if there is to be a cycle track along the Highways road, it will eat into the motorable space available now. The highways in the city cannot be widened further due to lack of space,” the officials said.
Such dedicated tracks for non-motorised transport are usually four feet wide. The Corporation should disclose the complete plan, the officials added.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said development of tracks for non-motorised transport should be taken up on new road projects or cities that were just developing. Plans to develop such areas on existing roads would not be feasible. The Corporation should look at measures that would bring down traffic congestion on the highways rather than such additions to the existing road.
The local body could study and take up efforts to improve and strengthen the existing infrastructure, he said.
