Coimbatore: The condition of roads in Coimbatore city is very bad. Many works are going on simultaneously in the city, due to which the condition of many roads has deteriorated. Now, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has sent a proposal to the state government seeking funds of around Rs 450 crore to improve the roads. This amount will be given for 5,233 pending road works.
The civic body has so far completed a total of 2,407 road works across the city and laid new roads for 411.92 km in the last one year.
Due to negligence of municipal and district administration officials and lack of proper planning, most of the roads in the city get damaged. Pipeline installation started for all major project works including 24×7 Water Supply Project, Underground Drainage (UGD) by Suez Firm, Pillur Scheme-3 by TWAD Board and CNG and LPG Gas Supply by Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Work is being done simultaneously and at the same time in the entire city.
Apart from this, the civic body also gave approval to network providers to dig up roads for fiber net and optic cable installation works for broadband internet connections in all 100 wards of 5 areas of the city. As a result, the roads in Coimbatore were completely damaged and became impassable. The situation became worse after the rain.
The bad roads in Coimbatore became the talk of the town and after criticism from all sides, the civic body started the road work. Road works were initiated under various projects and funds were allocated under various schemes including Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Development Programme, Nagarapura Salaigal Membattu Thittam and State Finance Committee. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said a total of 3,744 road works were carried out in all 100 wards of the city last year. He also said that out of 3,744 road works done in the city, they have completed a total of 2,407 road works after completing UGD, 24×7 water supply pipeline installation and other works.
A total of 804 road works are in progress and about 533 roads remain untouched by the road paving work as the UGD and 24×7 water supply project work has not started yet. So far, we have completed about 64.3% of the road work,” he said. Prabhakaran also revealed that some roads have not been taken up for the road paving project as UGD and water supply pipeline installation works are being carried out.
Infrastructure projects going slow in Coimbatore as key corporation posts lie vacant
At least six important posts in the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC), including Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Council Secretary, City Chief Engineer and City Health Officer, are vacant for a long time, due to which many development works and performance of the existing officials have been affected.
The civic body is awaiting approval from the Commissioner of Municipal Administration to fill the vacancies. Sources said many projects are progressing at a slow pace as there are no officials to monitor the works. S Vivin Sarvan, a social activist, told TNIE,
“Even when CCMC had all the officers, development work was carried out at a snail’s pace without any vacancies. Now the situation is quite bad due to vacant posts. Existing officers are burdened with additional duties.” CCMC commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said, “I am aware of the vacancies, and I have written to the CMA requesting it to fill the vacancies as soon as possible. He has assured to appoint officers as soon as possible.”
