The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has officially submitted a request for proposal (RfP) for the establishment of a food court on DB Road in RS Puram, under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The project, estimated to cost Rs 6.5 crore, is currently awaiting approval from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
Project Details and Budget Allocation
In the current financial year's budget, the corporation allocated Rs 5.50 crore for this project. According to a corporation official, the initiative is designed as a revenue-generating model. The food court is planned on approximately 60 cents of land adjacent to the existing multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility.
Capacity and Features
The official stated that the food court can accommodate up to 200 people at a time, with provisions for at least 10 shops. The PPP model adopted here is similar to the one successfully implemented at Kathipara in Chennai. Currently, the RfP covers only the ground-level court, but in the future, the structure can be extended to additional floors.
This development is expected to be a dual benefit for both the food court and the MLCP. The MLCP often operates below full capacity, so visitors to the food court can park their vehicles there instead of parking outside or along the road.
Financial Analysis and Next Steps
The corporation engaged a private consultancy to conduct a financial analysis of the project. Based on their report, the RfP was prepared and subsequently submitted to the state government for approval. Once approved, the project will move forward with the selection of a private partner through the PPP process.
