As three municipal corporations in Tamil Nadu gear up for mayoral elections, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced infrastructure schemes worth more than ₹3,000 crore to benefit the three civic bodies.
While nearly two-thirds of the allocation has been made to Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, the balance would be shared by Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli municipal corporations. All the three corporations had AIADMK nominees as mayors. The Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli mayors quit their posts following their nomination as Rajya Sabha candidates early this year (they were subsequently elected as MPs). However, the Coimbatore mayor S M Velusamy resigned from the post after he was stripped of the post of AIADMK Coimbatore urban district secretary after the recent Lok Sabha elections.
In a press release issued on Sunday at Chennai, the Chief Minister said construction of storm water drains in the newly added areas under Coimbatore Corporation for a length of about 1,745 km would be taken up in a phased manner at a cost of ₹1,550 crore and detailed project estimates were being prepared. Preparation of estimates for extending the Under Ground Sewerage (UDS) system in the new areas was also underway. The roads damaged by the execution of the UDS and water supply works would be repaired at a cost of ₹60 crore in the city.
Jayalalithaa said that with a view to easing traffic congestion in the city, an integrated bus stand would be constructed at a cost of ₹125 crore in Vellalore area on about 50 acres. At present, the central bus terminus is in the heart of the city at Gandhipuram and the constant inflow and outflow of buses caused heavy traffic snarls. She also announced that a suitable site would be identified for parking of trucks outside the city.
The Chief Minister said that plans for the construction of multi-level parking lots with private sector participation at three busy commercial areas of Coimbatore –Gandhipuram, DB Road in R S Puram and Town Hall- at a cost of ₹80 crore were also under preparation. The Sanganur canal would be streamlined and its banks would be strengthened to facilitate the movement of light vehicles. For this purpose, a semi-circular road would be formed linking Mettupalayam road, Sathyamangalam road and Avinashi road. A detailed plan to relocate people living on the banks of the Sanganur canal would be made, she said.
The other major projects she announced for Coimbatore included construction of houses at a cost of ₹443.55 crore to benefit the homeless poor by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and build a tunnel at Peria Kombai and Kattan Hills at a cost of ₹100 crore to implement the third drinking water project for Coimbatore.
In a separate release, Jayalalithaa said an Underground Sewerage Scheme (UDS) would be implemented in the new and left out areas of Thoothukudi corporation in a phased manner at a cost of ₹300 crore and road works would be taken up at a cost of ₹20 crore in the extension areas. In Tirunelveli corporation area, the UDS would be implemented in the areas not being covered at present at a cost of ₹490 crore. For road repairs an allocation of ₹35 crore would be made.
She said steps for modernising the bus terminus at Tirunelveli junction and construction of multi-level parking lot would be taken up.
While the announcements with regard to Coimbatore has met some of the long pending demands of the people here, the Chief Minister also has left some of the key demands untouched, particularly relating to the expansion of the Coimbatore airport and formation of bypass/ ring roads connecting some of the major national highways. These projects have faced opposition from people as they involved land acquisition but these are considered as essential for a city that is the second most industrially advanced city in the state.
The Chief Minister has also not made any mention about the demand for a metro rail project for Coimbatore. The government had announced a feasibility study for a mono rail project for Coimbatore but there is a view that it would be metro rail project that would meet the city’s long term needs, a view endorsed by none other than the `Metro Man’ E.Sreedharan.
The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, which on August 6 notified that the by-election to elect new mayors for Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi municipal corporations would be held on September 18, later on the same day cancelled the announcement. This was because it was brought to its notice that the preparation of electoral rolls for Coimbatore Municipal Corporation was not complete, the TNSEC had said. It said that a new schedule for holding the elections will be made shortly. There is expectation that the announcement may be made at anytime.