The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore (ICCIC), has resolved to impress upon the Government the need for a Greater Coimbatore Development Authority, similar to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.

Speaking at the 80th Annual General Meeting of the ICCIC, outgoing President,R R Balasundharam said the city, apart from being the second largest in Tamil Nadu, had also emerged as a nationally important economic centre.

The Chamber also seeks to request the Government to revise the Master Plan for Coimbatore (passed two decades back), keeping in mind the present and future needs. “Master Plan Maps with present land use may be prepared both for Coimbatore and Local Planning Area,” he said.

Engineering industries To boost the manufacturing potential, the State Government should seek the Centre’s nod for setting up a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Coimbatore and extension of Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme for engineering industries too, Balasundharam said.

The city has developed a niche in Indian motor, pump, foundry and auto components sectors, requiring large volume of specific metallurgical foundry and machining needs. Extension of TUF scheme would help attract investments for these sectors, he said.

Other pending demands of ICCIC have been – an exclusive overnight express train between Coimbatore and Bangalore, creation of basic infrastructure at railway stations in North Coimbatore, Peelamedu and Podanur, electrification of Coimbatore – Mettupalayam line, speedy completion of gauge conversion works in Podanur – Pollachi stretch, better flight connectivity (domestic and international) and speedy implementation of the airport expansion programme.

Referring to urban infrastructure, he said, “Some long pending transport planning proposals including flyovers, multilevel parking, link roads, western by-pass roads will have to be expedited to meet present and future growth of this region.”

Water resources The Chamber has also resolved to strengthen existing water resources like reservoirs, tanks and lakes in this region.

Voicing concern over mismanagement of water bodies, Balasundharam said, “Coimbatore is already a water stressed region. There is a mushroom growth of water bottling plants at several places here without legal sanctions.”

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