The Coimbatore Corporation proposes to set up utility ducts on city roads to avoid digging up roads frequently for laying cables. The civic body which is planning the 24x7 water supply project will work on the utility ducts along with the water project. The utility ducts are a major component of the model roads project, sanctioned in 2013, for which the tender process was completed in 2015.
"The entire city might be dug up for the 24x7 water supply project, as the old pipes have to be replaced with new ones. The utility ducts will be set up on the edges of the road. The ducts would be compartmentalized and telecommunication and electric cables would be kept accordingly," said an engineer.
Corporation engineers said that a few years ago the corporation had passed a similar resolution for setting up such ducts for cables on Cross Cut Road at the cost of Rs5 crore, but the project failed to take off. In 2013 as well, when the model roads project was announced, these ducts were planned for roads like VKK Menon Road, Raju Road, Chinnasamy Road, D B Road, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, Alagesan Road, Kamarajar Road and Balasundaram Road.
City-based architects and urban planners said that the ducts could be designed based on the budget. "The new roads should be planned and designed in such a manner that the need to relay them doesn't arise for a period of time," said an architect.
Architects are still ideating design ideas for the duct. They are still playing with ideas like setting up concrete hexagonal paver-blocks which could be moved to access the ducts or ducts which could be accessed through manholes.
BSNL operators, Tangedco officials and other private players have also sought the sanction of this project and have also offered to pay for the usage and maintenance of these ducts.
"It becomes easier for us to repair and maintain these ducts. The cost of relaying a road after every road cut is expensive and the entire process of getting permission for it is time consuming," said a Tangedco official. They have also accepted to relay their cables and bear the cost for the same when this project is undertaken.
Civic activists said that the ducts are much needed and would ease woes of commuters.
"The entire city might be dug up for the 24x7 water supply project, as the old pipes have to be replaced with new ones. The utility ducts will be set up on the edges of the road. The ducts would be compartmentalized and telecommunication and electric cables would be kept accordingly," said an engineer.
Corporation engineers said that a few years ago the corporation had passed a similar resolution for setting up such ducts for cables on Cross Cut Road at the cost of Rs5 crore, but the project failed to take off. In 2013 as well, when the model roads project was announced, these ducts were planned for roads like VKK Menon Road, Raju Road, Chinnasamy Road, D B Road, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, Alagesan Road, Kamarajar Road and Balasundaram Road.
City-based architects and urban planners said that the ducts could be designed based on the budget. "The new roads should be planned and designed in such a manner that the need to relay them doesn't arise for a period of time," said an architect.
Architects are still ideating design ideas for the duct. They are still playing with ideas like setting up concrete hexagonal paver-blocks which could be moved to access the ducts or ducts which could be accessed through manholes.
BSNL operators, Tangedco officials and other private players have also sought the sanction of this project and have also offered to pay for the usage and maintenance of these ducts.
"It becomes easier for us to repair and maintain these ducts. The cost of relaying a road after every road cut is expensive and the entire process of getting permission for it is time consuming," said a Tangedco official. They have also accepted to relay their cables and bear the cost for the same when this project is undertaken.
Civic activists said that the ducts are much needed and would ease woes of commuters.