Latest news with #K.Kathirmathiyon
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Coimbatore Corporation's foot overbridge proposal at Gandhipuram and Ukkadam awaits State government approval
The Coimbatore Corporation's plan to construct foot overbridges (FOBs) in Gandhipuram and Ukkadam is awaiting approval from the State government. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been submitted, with an estimated cost of ₹8 crore for each location. Owing to its proximity to Town, Central, and Thiruvalluvar bus termini, Gandhipuram Junction witnesses heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In response, the Corporation has proposed three foot overbridges: one across Bharathiar Road linking the Thiruvalluvar and Town bus stands; another connecting the Town Bus Stand to Cross Cut Road; and a third across Dr. Nanjappa Road providing access to the Central Bus Stand. In Ukkadam, one bridge is planned between the bus stand and Smart City Lake, and another near the proposed second terminal of Ukkadam bus stand. A Corporation official said the DPR was submitted earlier this month, and the project, to be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will feature staircases, escalators, lifts, and designated space for advertisements. 'We are awaiting administrative sanction from the State government. Work will begin once it is received,' the official said. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, recalled that a subway had earlier been planned along the Gandhipuram flyover with budgetary allocation, but was dropped by the Highways Department. He welcomed the Corporation's move to build FOBs, but cautioned that permitting advertisements on them could pose a road safety risk by distracting drivers and increasing the likelihood of accidents.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Consumer body to file PIL demanding construction of subways on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city
The Coimbatore Consumer Cause will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding construction of five subways along the 10.1 km stretch of Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city as planned initially in the Avinashi Road flyover project. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the consumer body, said five pedestrian subways were approved across the stretch, with ₹15.47 crores earmarked for it in the sanctioned estimate of ₹1,621.30 crore flyover project. However, the revised estimate of ₹1,791.22 crores for the project had apparently excluded these essential safety provisions, without any reasonable justification. Only a Foot over Bridge (FOB) was approved near a private educational institution because it was requested by the institution. There was no such consideration for the convenience of the general public, he said. When the issue was taken up to the Coimbatore district Collector in 2024, he called for a Special Road Safety Committee meeting on March 1, 2024, which was attended by the City Police Commissioner and Corporation Commissioner. After a thorough discussion, the officials of the Highways Department were instructed to provide the facility for pedestrian crossings. The Collector also sent a letter dated March 28, 2024 to the Divisional Engineer (Projects), Highways Department, instructing the Department to provide subways/FOBs with lifts. Yet, the revised estimate was sanctioned on July 12, 2024, excluding the subways. The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines mandated construction of pedestrian infrastructures. Absence of pedestrian crossings was said to be the cause of death of more than 10 persons every month in Coimbatore. More than 238 pedestrians died in Coimbatore City alone during the past 2.5 years. The five subways were approved and funds sanctioned too. But, the Highways Department dropped the subways and in some places, development of service road too without anyone's knowledge. The Department should construct all five originally proposed subways (excluding the privately requested FOB) or FOBs at the locations planned initially or nearby. Any further proposal or revision in this work must be done only in consultation with public stakeholders and safety authorities. The service road provided in the original approved design was also deleted in a few places. The roads must be provided as per the original approved plan, he said.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Consumer organisation asks Electricity Department to communicate to consumers on refund of excess deposit collected in Coimbatore for new connections
The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has asked the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) to communicate clearly to electricity consumers in Coimbatore region details of the refund of excess deposit amount collected from those who sought new service connections till April last year. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the consumer body, said in a communication to the TNPDCL that the ₹2.5 crore of excess deposit amount collected from 2,717 consumers was adjusted in the current consumption charges of the consumers who had sought new connections and paid excess deposit amount. The deposit amount for single phase connection if the cable is laid underground is ₹7,155 and if it is overhead cable, the charges are ₹2,860. For three phase connection (three KW), the charges for overhead cable is ₹6,135 and for underground cable, it is ₹15,330. The TNPDCL collected the charges for underground cable even in areas where the supply is given through overhead cables. When this issue was raised, the TNPDCL said the excess amount was collected because of a 'system fault' in the headquarters. Based on a complaint filed by the consumer organisation with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission on March 14 last year, the Commission said on April 3 that the extra development charges collected by way of wrong applicability of the UG development charges for the overhead service connections should be refunded to the applicants/consumers immediately or treated as advance current consumption charges paid and reported to the Commission. The application software should be corrected accordingly with immediate effect. But, the TNERC order was not followed and hence the Coimbatore Consumer Cause took up the issue again with the TNPDCL. The TNPDCL recently said that it was making adjustments in the current consumption charges. But, this had not been communicated to the consumers properly. They were unaware of the reason for the adjustment and had to approach the respective section office to know the details. While the excess amount should be adjusted for two bill cycles, the remaining amount should be refunded to consumers as the consumers were eligible to claim interest for this amount according to the Supply Code, he said.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Concerns over Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules permitting hoardings in violation of road safety norms
Concerns have been raised over provisions in the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, which permit advertisements on medians, flyovers, barricades, and vehicles, allegedly in violation of Indian Road Congress (IRC) safety norms and earlier High Court directions. Rule 322(1) of the Rules allow hoardings and display materials to be installed on a range of public infrastructure, including flyover pillars, road medians, traffic barricades, streetlight poles, and moving vehicles fitted with digital screens. According to IRC 46:1972, advertisements are not permitted within 100 metres of road junctions (50 metres in urban areas), within 10 metres from the edge of the carriageway, or within the right-of-way of highways. Hanging banners across roads and flashing or moving-light advertisements—except for public information—are also prohibited. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said the rule overlooks long-standing safety restrictions and judicial orders. 'Advertisements are being permitted in zones considered hazardous under IRC guidelines. These include areas near junctions, along highways, and even directly above carriageways,' he said. 'The rules must be withdrawn in their present form and redrafted in full compliance with IRC guidelines. Road safety cannot be compromised for the sake of revenue. We have urged the government to ensure that future regulations are framed with safety as the primary consideration,' he added. 'In earlier court proceedings in 2011, 2016, and 2017, the State itself acknowledged that advertisements on medians and barricades posed risks to drivers. Despite those submissions, the present rule reintroduces such practices. The High Court had also held that barricades should not be used for commercial advertisements, allowing only informative materials.' He further raised concern over the shift in licensing authority from District Collectors to urban local body officials, stating that it had resulted in reduced oversight and an increase in violations. The rules have been criticised for prioritising local body revenue over road safety, without consulting transport authorities. The Madras High Court has admitted the public interest litigation and directed officials to respond within eight weeks. Corporation officials said the matter will be looked into.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Mammoth UGD charges upset Coimbatore residents
Residents across Coimbatore city are reporting alarmingly high Under Ground Drainage (UGD) user charges on the civic body's online payment portal, with demands for some properties extending into lakhs of rupees. Coimbatore Corporation had recently passed a resolution stipulating revised monthly UGD user charges, to be assessed based on the size of buildings. As per the revised structure, residential buildings up to 600 are to be charged ₹120 per month; 601 to 1,200 at ₹150; 1,201 to 1,800 at ₹180; 1,801 to 3,500 at ₹210; 3,501 to 5,000 at ₹250; 5,001 to 10,000 at ₹280; and properties above 10,000 at ₹300 per month. However, several residents have discovered significantly inflated figures on the citizen web portal, where property taxes are also managed. P. Srinivasan, a resident of Gandhipark, said, 'The Corporation recently provided me with the UGD connection book, similar to property and water tax documents. Although no payment demand was explicitly made, I checked my account online and was shocked. My building falls within the 1,801 to 3,500 slab, which, as per the newly proposed ₹210 per month, would only amount to approximately ₹22,680 from 2017 to 2025. Yet, the portal shows a demand of ₹3,30,000.' A similar situation was reported by a resident in Nanjundapuram. For an 1,100 sqft building, the expected charge for nine years (at ₹150 per month) should be ₹16,200. However, the total displayed demand was ₹1,36,000. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, emphasised the need for clarity. 'The State government must clarify the basis on which these charges are calculated, as there is a complete lack of transparency. Given that there were no regular monthly charges for paid UGD previously, when the civic body begins collection, it should be well-prepared to avoid such errors,' he stated. According to a senior Corporation official, any reported discrepancies will be investigated. They aim to ascertain if these are isolated cases or part of a wider problem, with steps taken to resolve them.
