A suggestion voiced by District Collector S. Prabakar for expanding the urban landscape of Erode city through future developments at peripheries found many takers during stage-II discussion on Smart City here recently.
After listening to a presentation made by ICRA Management Consulting Services (IMaCS) that prioritised development of the 12-km long Perumpallam Odai and its catchment areas in 23 out of 60 wards citing the factor of maximum impact in contiguous area, the Collector observed that while all three canals: Perumpallam, Pitchaikaranpallam Odai and Sunnambu Odai, could be developed and maintained well at much lesser than envisaged investment, there was a need to integrate a plethora of other development aspects into the Smart City plan.
Alongside exploring scope for elevated parking, and creation of greenery inside the city limits, establishments that attract vehicular traffic leading to snarls must be shifted out. The Collector mooted integration of a proposal for linking Thindal with Chithode for extending the Ring Road in the Smart City plan, saying that the project under advanced stage of implementation will prompt establishments to shift their bases along the Ring Road on their own volition.
Loco sheds
Mr. Prabakar also urged Railway officials to extend their cooperation for shifting the loco sheds elsewhere so that the City Corporation would have no hitch in maintaining the Perumpallam canal, and setting up playgrounds, walk tracks, and green spaces.
‘Avoid duplication’
A Children’s Park, walk tracks, parks, and play grounds are the other factors that require integration into the Smart City project. Development plan for Smart City project needs to be tuned in such a way that there is no duplication of the works that have already been approved under convergence schemes, the Collector said.
In his presentation earlier, IMaCS Consultant Anand said that of the three development options: greenfield, redevelopment, and retrofitting, the last suited Erode city better. The presentation also laid emphasis on improving the bus stand and market, and purifying Sunnambu Odai. Under Pan City Smart Solutions, several aspects including water supply, CCTV Surveillance, and intelligent transport system were covered. Mayor Malliga Paramasivam, Deputy Mayor K.C. Palanichamy, Corporation Commissioner R. Mohan, and representatives of Olirum Erodu Foundation, Federation of All Trade and Industries' Association, and social and welfare organisations took part. The first-stage discussion initiated by ICRA Management Consulting Services (IMaCS) during September witnessed representatives of industry, business and welfare organisations laying emphasis on drinking water, sanitation, improving power availability.
The Collector mooted integration of a proposal for linking Thindal with Chithode for extending the Ring Road in the Smart City Plan
