Water line to be shifted to facilitate road widening

SPOT STUDY: Coimbatore Mayor R. Venkatachalam (second left) and Highways officials inspecting on Thursday a culvert in front of the Uzhvar Sandhai at Singanallur which is being reconstructed as part of the four-laning of Tiruchi Road. Photo: K. Ananthan

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board and the Coimbatore Corporation may begin next week works to shift a major pipeline that supplies Pilloor drinking water to seven areas outside the city. The shifting of the line needs to be done in order to facilitate the construction of culverts, which is part of the widening of the Tiruchi Road. A 6.2 km stretch of the road is being provided with four lanes at a cost of Rs.15 crore.

Mayor R. Venkatachalam, who heads the committee on infrastructure constituted by the State Government in connection with the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held here in June next year, reviewed the widening works along with officials of the National Highways and the Corporation.

The line will be shifted to specifically enable the works on the culverts at Uzhavar Sandhai (Singanallur) and Radha Rani Theatre, the Mayor said.

“Water supply to Palladam, Sulur, Sultanpet, Perur-Chettipalayam, Madukkarai and Othakalmandapam may be suspended for two days. But, the line will be changed within the stipulated period so that the people in these areas are not affected,” he said.

“The city, however, will not be affected as the Corporation has already re-located its local distribution lines. The usual supply will be made from the main service reservoir in the city. The pumping from Pilloor also need not be stopped as the supply to the other local bodies will be stopped only at the main service reservoir (overhead tank) at Vilankurichi,” Mr. Venkatachalam said. Arrangements were being made to relocate the poles for electricity lines also.

The Corporation would also remove encroachments on two alternative roads so that free flow of traffic could be ensured when traffic would be diverted from Tiruchi Road during the expansion work. “The Highways authorities said the works would take five months to complete if traffic were to be allowed on one side and the works done on the other side. Since, time was a vital factor, we said both sides could be taken up at the same time so that the entire work was over in two-and-half months,” the Mayor said. So, the alternative roads of the Corporation would be available for traffic diversion.