Coimbatore Councillors Grapple with Road Woes as Elections Approach
In Coimbatore, deteriorating road infrastructure has placed city corporation councillors in a precarious position, particularly with the state assembly elections looming. Residents' frustrations over non-sanctioned concrete roads in numerous areas have created a challenging environment for door-to-door campaigning, as councillors must now confront voters' expectations amid public inconvenience.
Councillors Voice Concerns Over Delayed Projects
Ilakummi Izhamselvi, the East zone chairman, emphasized the critical nature of the issue, stating, "Roads are the basic facilities that the public asks for, and if that's not fulfilled, how could we as councillors face the public and ask for votes?" This sentiment echoes widely among councillors, who report that the delay in executing road projects has not only disrupted daily life but also threatens their electoral prospects.
A recent emergency council meeting convened by the city corporation on Thursday provided some relief, with the passage of 143 resolutions related to various development works. Key decisions included approvals to finalize tenders worth Rs123 crore for relaying existing roads and constructing new ones. However, councillors from the DMK and allied parties highlight that the scale of pending work remains substantial, with over 200 concrete roads urgently requiring attention.
Funding and Implementation Hurdles
Ilakummi Izhamselvi pointed out that while proposals for main roads often receive sanctions, those for concrete roads are frequently neglected. She questioned, "When the state sanction is not given, why not implement the concrete road projects using the corporation's general fund?" She suggested that works like center median beautification could utilize corporate social responsibility funds instead, preserving the general fund for essential road repairs. With each ward containing more than 20 concrete roads, the cumulative need across 100 wards is immense.
Chithra Vellingiri, councillor from ward 26, cited specific examples of badly damaged roads in her area, such as Pattalamman Kovil Street, Ayyal Naidu Street, and Tulak Venkataswamy Street. Proposals to relay these stretches have been sent to the state government, but approvals are still pending. Similarly, Ellaithottam Road and Nehru Nagar streets 1-3 also await repairs, exacerbating residents' woes.
Residents Express Frustration Over Neglected Roads
S A Natarajan, a resident of Urumandampalayam, lamented that roads in his locality have not been relaid for the past two years. He described the conditions in Urumandampalayam core area, Sastri Nagar Street, and the Nanjaegoundan Pudur-Nallampalayam stretch as "very bad," making commuting difficult, especially during rains. Despite promises from corporation officials to convert mud roads into tar roads, no action has been taken, leaving residents disillusioned.
Administration's Response and Alternatives
Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran addressed the funding challenges, noting that while a proposal for Rs230 crore was submitted to relay and construct several roads, including concrete ones, only Rs123 crore was sanctioned. He explained, "The state govt is not approving concrete roads, considering various challenges. There is no approval for us to implement such roads using the general fund as well."
Prabakaran highlighted alternatives, stating that the state is willing to provide bitumen roads with a minimum width of 2.5 meters, but councillors insist on concrete roads, which cost three times more. Another cost-effective option is paver blocks. He assured that roads needing immediate attention would be addressed, but the ongoing debate over materials and funding continues to stall progress.
As the election season intensifies, the pressure on councillors to deliver on road infrastructure promises mounts, with the outcome potentially influencing voter sentiment in Coimbatore.
