ringing all underdeveloped areas under the retrofitting plan, introduction of metro rail service to reduce congestion, application of smart technology to improve sanitation, construction of multi-level houses to abolish urban slums and multi-level parking at various locations were among the suggestions aired at the consultative meeting on Smart City held at the Bharathidasan University here on Wednesday.
Inaugurating the programme, which was organised by the Departments of Women Studies and Environment and Biotechnology, V.M. Muthukumar, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, said smart city plan was widely believed to be a game changer in providing basic amenities in urban civic bodies.
The plan should be smart enough to transfer all benefits to the targeted citizens without giving room for mismanagement. The plan should have enough provisions to offer basic amenities in under-developed areas of the city so as to take them on a par with developed areas of Tiruchi.
M. Krishnan, Syndicate Member, Bharathidasan University, said the smart city could not make real headway unless importance was given to increase the green cover of it.
Environment aspect could make a meaningful contribution to the making of smart city.
Citing the damage done to the urban infrastructure due to heavy rain in the State, R. Mangaleswaran, Syndicate member, Bharathidasan University, said the pan city approach should focus on creating a comprehensive underground drainage with provisions to prevent water logging and flooding during rainy season.
All congested and commercial areas should be included in the retrofitting plan to improve all basic amenities.
V. Ganapathy, Member, State Planning Commission subcommittee on Water and Sanitation, said the existing railway track from Tiruverumbur to Fort Station should be remodelled in order to allow metro railway service. It would decongest the road between Tiruverumbur and Main Guard Gate.
Stressing the need for protecting elders, M.A. Aleem, former Vice Principal, KAPV Government Medical College, said there was no full-fledge hospital or separate hostel for the elders in central region of the State.
A model city having such a facility would serve a model for the entire country. It would inspire many cities to have such facilities on the same line.
M. Subburaman, Director, SCOPE, said many areas particularly congested areas were still lagging behind in sanitation and solid waste management.
New technologies on providing sanitation had come up.
The plan should have provisions to make use of new technologies.
Gopinath Ganapathy, Head, Computer Science, Bharathidasan University, said the information and technology had been offering smart solutions to many issues. Steps must be taken to make use of IT solutions.
N. Manimekalai, Head, Department of Women Studies, said the University would join hands with the Tiruchi Corporation to prepare meaningful smart city proposal. It would submit a detailed report on suggestions made at the consultation meet to the Corporation shortly.
K. C. Neelamegam of Thaneer, a voluntary organisation, emphasised the importance of utilising the services of NGOs in greening the city and maintaining the saplings planted.
The plan should have enough provisions to offer basic amenities in under-developed areas of the city so as to take them on a par with developed areas of Tiruchi
