Two major infrastructure projects proposed in Coimbatore – the Gandhipuram flyover and the western bypass – are back to the drawing board.
An official of the State Highways Department told The Hindu on Friday that the aim of reworking on the proposals was to bring down the number of buildings that would be affected by an infrastructure project and also reduce land acquisition.
Tenders
The Gandhipuram flyover was earlier proposed to be a three-tier facility. The plan now is to have a two-tier flyover without an underpass. Tenders have been called to submit fresh design for the flyover and it will be available in 45 days, according to the officials.
The new design would be scrutinised at different levels and only then a clear picture on the cost implication would emerge, he said.
The other project that will get a new proposal is the western bypass. In the face of several objections to the present plan, it has been decided to have a new alignment and the proposed bypass will now be from Madukkarai to Narasimhanaickenpalayam (instead of Thudiyalur). The details of the new alignment will be ready by January 2013, but the distance is expected to be more than the original plan.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, says it is important to ensure that the public are not affected by infrastructure projects.
However, when the western bypass road was proposed six years ago, it was estimated that less than 15 structures would be affected.
When a project gets delayed, the area develops and it becomes difficult to implement the project. The Government should inform the public and notify the areas identified for an infrastructure project. It should also implement the projects at the earliest.
In the case of the Gandhipuram flyover, having a two-tier one was a short-term solution to the current traffic problems.
If there are intersections in the flyover (as in the case of Avinashi Road flyover), it leads to traffic congestions on it. Hence, it is not a good move in the long term to have a two-tier flyover instead of a three-tier one.
The official added that the State Highways Secretary visited Coimbatore last week to review the infrastructure works here and had a meeting with all departments concerned. He called for co-ordination among the departments to expedite the works.
The Highways would commence works in a week for the road work in the rail over bridge at Eachanari. It would cost Rs. 9 crore and would be completed in a year-and-a-half, he said. The railways had completed its works for the flyover.
