In the past two years or so, the Coimbatore Corporation has made some big announcements for the city’s development. Some of those were budgetary announcements and some others were at the monthly Council meetings.
Nevertheless, they have the same status as on date – yet to be implemented.
The announcements from the Mayor, S.M. Velusamy, include a new vegetable market on Mettupalayam Road by combining the retail and wholesale markets, which are at present functioning at two places on the same road. Then there are the proposals to construct two bus termini in Vadavalli and Kurichi and a central bus stand project. The aim is to establish an integrated bus stand in Gandhipuram by bring together all the three bus stands there by acquiring a part of the Coimbatore Central Prison grounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Another big project is a mass transit project. The Council has passed a resolution urging the State Government to conduct a feasibility study for a mono rail project for the city. Civic organisations are demanding a medium metro rail project.
There are also the council hall, omni bus stand project, multi-level car parking project, sports complex and swimming pool projects. Plus, there is the proposal to create and recruit 2,000-odd personnel for posts ranging from conservancy worker to city engineer.
Sources within the ruling party, AIADMK councillors say that the absence of any tangible development on ground sends a wrong signal to the people, who have already started criticising not just the Corporation but also the State Government.
ADVERTISEMENT
That worries more in an election year.
Official sources say that all the aforementioned projects are at various stages of clearance – a few with the Government and others with other agencies. They say that the detailed project report for the vegetable market is not yet ready. The bus termini proposal is with the Government and the Corporation has sought funds from the Local Planning Authority, Coimbatore.
Similarly, the Government’s clearance for a new Council Hall is expected anytime soon.
As for the multi-level car park, it is the project of another Government agency and not the Corporation.
The sources also point out that the Government has cleared the 24x7 water supply scheme for the old city area and had granted nearly Rs. 200 crore for road development works. It was wrong to say that the Government was not helping the civic body.
The Corporation has used the funds to relay roads that were dug using the execution of the underground drainage work and another Rs. 23 crore for laying roads in the added areas.