The Hindu Business Line : Issues that call for urgent action in Coimbatore

THE Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa's visit to Coimbatore on Monday to attend a function at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has raised hopes among people of the city that she will address some of their concerns. While issues basically relate to infrastructure bottlenecks that the city has been facing, one issue that has been eluding solution concerned unapproved layouts that constitute a significant portion of the residential areas in the city, which is the second most industrially developed in the State.

Though the city municipal corporation has been collecting taxes from property owners in these colonies, it has been unable to provide basic amenities since the rules do not provide for them.

The problems facing the city need quick solutions since Coimbatore is in demand by industrial groups — not only from the software sector, but also from the manufacturing, retail and entertainment sectors. There are fears that if the Government does not initiate remedial measures, Coimbatore will go the Bangalore way — where chronic infrastructure bottlenecks have threatened to keep the investors away. Some of the issues fall within the domain of the State Government.The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, has been asking the Government for the establishment of a Kongu Development Authority (KDA) to give a push to the development of the Coimbatore region. Mr A. Sakthivel, President, ICCI, during his interaction with the media sometime ago, recalled the announcement made by Ms Jayalalithaa about the promotion of Coimbatore as the second industrial hub in the State (after Chennai). He felt that the formation of KDA would help speed up works relating to the establishment of industrial and tourism ventures.

There is an urgent need for decongesting city roads by forming outer ring roads and by establishing link roads that could ease the traffic burden on Avanashi road, Tiruchi road, Mettupalayam road and Pollachi roads.

Mr Sakthivel wanted scheme roads connecting various areas such as Peelamedu, Singanallur, Tudialur and Vellalore within the city. .

After years of industrial recession, there is improvement in investment climate in the city and property prices have seen substantial increased.

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