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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Years on, wait continues for roundabout to ease congestion at RS Puram Junction
COIMBATORE: The ever-busy RS Puram Junction in Coimbatore has become a symbol of bureaucratic impasse, with motorists bearing the brunt of growing ego clashes between the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) and the city police. Once regulated by traffic signals, the intersection of DB Road and TV Samy Road now operates without them, creating chaos and congestion. The traffic signals were removed as part of the Smart City project works initiated by the CCMC. In place of the signals, the civic body introduced cobblestone pavements, seating arrangements, and selfie points — a makeover that, according to officials, enhances the aesthetic appeal of the area. However, this facelift has come at a steep cost — the effective width of the road has drastically reduced, significantly disrupting vehicular movement. While police officials have called for the reinstallation of traffic signals to ease the flow, the Road Safety Committee has pushed for the construction of a roundabout to better manage the junction. Yet, the CCMC has staunchly opposed both options, citing the financial investment and aesthetic considerations of the Smart City enhancements. A traffic police told TNIE that instead of allowing them to reinstall the signals at the junction, the CCMC officials have been asking the traffic police wing to deploy police personnel to regulate traffic. "Police personnel cannot be manning the junction 24x7."
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Coimbatore roads remain damaged despite Rs 200 crore allocation for upgrades; residents slam civic apathy
COIMBATORE: The roads across Coimbatore city paint a grim picture, with citizens and motorists left to bear the brunt of poor planning, shoddy execution, and the apathy of civic authorities. From main thoroughfares to inner lanes, damaged stretches have become a daily obstacle course for residents, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) and the state government's oversight. Despite Chief Minister MK Stalin's allocation of Rs 200 crore exclusively for road repair and development in Coimbatore, there is little to no improvement. The recent spell of rain only worsened the conditions, turning broken roads into dangerous, muddy stretches unfit even for walking. "It is a nightmare driving on these roads. I end up at the mechanic almost every month due to damage caused by potholes. Will the civic body bear these expenses," asked G Balamurugan, a two-wheeler rider from Vellakinar. "Even arterial roads like Tiruchy Road and Mettupalayam Road are riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces. Where did the funds go," he added. The simultaneous execution of multiple infrastructure projects, including underground drainage (UGD) works, 24x7 water supply, and stormwater drain works has left roads dug up and unattended for years. Instead of being phased sensibly, all these projects were taken up across various zones at once, resulting in widespread disarray. The issue of bad roads is not new to Coimbatore, but the scale of degradation has worsened in recent years, Balamurugan added.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Siruvani Dam leakage yet to be plugged even as monsoon nears
COIMBATORE: With the southwest monsoon just days away, concerns are mounting over the delay in initiating critical repair works at the Siruvani Dam - one of the primary sources of drinking water for Coimbatore city. The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has been waiting for the Kerala Water Resources and Irrigation Department to finalise cost estimates for essential repairs, based on a recent report by dam safety experts. To address increasing seepage from the dam, a joint inspection was conducted on January 8 by five teams comprising officials from the Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), CCMC, and the Kerala State Government's Water Resources Department. The teams carried out a detailed assessment of the dam's condition and highlighted urgent structural interventions. The CWPRS team has since submitted a comprehensive report to CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran, outlining the extent of the damage and suggesting remedial measures to arrest the leakage and improve overall dam safety. The Pune team has suggested two methods - grouting and geo membrane for fixing the issues in the dam. Due to water seepage, around 10 MLD of water is being wasted every single day. This quantity can be used to supply water for three days to residential areas in the city. And once the issues are addressed, around 50 to 55 MLD of water can be saved during the peak summer season which would be of great use for the people.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation clears Rs 17 crore dues to Suez
COIMBATORE: In a significant advancement to the completion of the long-pending 24x7 water supply project, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has cleared pending dues of Rs 17 crore to Suez, the private firm executing the project. The civic body has also allocated an additional Rs 20 crore to the highways department to restore roads damaged during pipeline installation. The 24x7 water supply project, which aims to ensure uninterrupted water supply in 60 wards across the city, had seen sluggish progress until recently, due to issues including pending dues. In view of this, TNIE had carried out a detailed report on May 4. CCMC took cognisance of the report and has cleared pending dues. With payments now released, officials confirm that work has gained momentum and the project is expected to be complete by August 2. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said that one of the biggest challenges faced by the civic body was obtaining permission to dig up major state and national highways. "Major highways and arterial roads, from Bharathi Park near Mettupalayam Road to Alvernia School on Trichy Road had to be dug up to install pipelines," he said. "To ensure smooth road conditions post-project, the corporation has also allocated Rs 20 crore to the highways department for road restoration."
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No plan to turn Adis Street study centre into library: CCMC
COIMBATORE: Despite overwhelming demand from students, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has clarified that there are currently no plans to expand the Knowledge & Study Centre at Adis Street into a world-class library. The decision comes even as the centre continues to witness heavy footfall from aspirants preparing for various competitive exams. Built under the Coimbatore Smart City project at a cost of `2.5 crore, the two-storey facility was inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin in January 2024. Located in Ward 83, the 7,800 sq ft centre has been a popular destination for students from Coimbatore and nearby districts, particularly UPSC, TNPSC, bank exam, and JEE aspirants. However, the facility, which has a seating capacity of only 180, often sees more than 250 students daily, sometimes exceeding 300. With over 4,000 books and 16 computers, the space is unable to accommodate the growing demand. "The centre is a great initiative, but it's overcrowded every single day. We end up waiting outside for hours just to get a seat," said Karthik S, a UPSC aspirant from Tiruppur. "Instead of turning us away, they should consider expanding it. We really need more space." Several students have urged the civic body to construct additional floors to ease the pressure. However, the latter has revealed that such plans are not on the cards. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said, "Currently, we don't have any plan to expand the facility at Adis Street. Instead, two new "Mudhalvar Padippagams" (Chief Minister's Study Centres) are set to be built in the north and west zones of the city. The facility will have reading areas on the ground floor and working areas on the first and second floors. These two centres are set to be built at a cost of around `8 cr using the education fund. We have already floated tenders for the project, and the work is set to commence soon. Additionally, the `300 cr Periyar Grand Library, set to come up in nearby Gandhipuram, is expected to reduce the load on the Adis Street facility." While the civic body believes the upcoming infrastructure will balance the need, students hope their immediate concerns will not be overlooked in the long-term planning.
