In the wake of reports that the integrated Vellalore bus stand project has been dropped, a special field inspection by the Coimbatore SimpliCity News Group was conducted to check if the reports were just alleged rumours or controversies.
Coimbatore: Coimbatore, also known as the Manchester of South India, is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu comprising Micro and Small Scale Industries, IT companies, Agricultural Communication, many hospitals and renowned educational institutions, as well as spiritual spots which are the hallmark of this town.
* Vellalore Bus Stand - The Koyambedu of Coimbatore
Transportation is very important for any city to achieve growth. Though Coimbatore has excellent rail and air services for its transportation, bus transport is also seen as very important for the city's growth.
While the Metro is being planned for Coimbatore, the city's master plan architects are of the view that the development of integrated bus transport to connect various districts is important. Based on this, the construction of a bus stand in Coimbatore on the lines of the Koyambedu bus stand is being considered.
Earlier, the bus transport system comprised the Town Bus Stand in Gandhipuram was for Coimbatore's town buses, the Gandhipuram Central Bus Stand for buses that ply to Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, the Thiruvalluvar Bus Stand for buses plying to big cities like Chennai, the Saibaba Colony Bus Stand for buses plying to Nilgiris and Mysore and Singanallur Bus Stand for buses heading to the Southern Tamil Nadu districts including Trichy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.
Late former TN Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa during her regime had announced the setting up of an integrated bus stand at Vellalore to integrate bus transport in Coimbatore.
*Integrated Vellalore Bus Stand Infrastructure
A sum of Rs. 168 crore was allocated by the Government of Tamil Nadu and 61 acres of land was drifted with the help of construction experts for the construction of an integrated Vellalore Bus Stand.
Comprehensive Mobility Plan Coimbatore has 140 buses, 33 town buses, 80 omni buses, 112 fixed bus stands, medical treatment centre, mothers' room, storage room, transport corporation offices, time monitoring rooms, ATMs, ticket counters, restaurants and commercial offices.
With the help of construction experts, the AIADMK government decided to construct a massive Vellalore Bus Stand with the help of construction experts with 110 four-wheelers and 1,200 two-wheeler parking lots. The construction work for the same was also underway.
*Is the Vellalore Bus Stand project now in question?
Questions have now begun to arise after the construction work of the Vellalore integrated bus stand has started. While bus transport is essential for the development of the city, the question was raised as to how useful the Vellalore bus stand would actually be.
The DMK, in particular, had raised this question stating that the integrated bus stand was not designed to unite all the areas and the major locations of the city. The opposition has also gone on record that the bus stand will not connect buses easily.
Their argument is that the bus stand will not be of much use to not only Coimbatore city but also to big cities like Chennai and Bangalore, as well as to the Northern districts. They alleged that since the main road connecting the Southern districts is 8-10 km away and the main road connecting Chennai, Bangalore and the northern districts is 15-17 km away, the bus stand will not be an integrated transport hub for a developing Coimbatore.
Vellalore Bus Stand issue
The Vellalore bus stand was seen as one of the biggest structures for Coimbatore but the work was stopped even before it could be completed, especially since the basic infrastructure for the bus stand was completed and the next phase of work was underway. A Committee was also set up for this. A field inspection and consultation meeting are presently underway. In this situation, there were reports that the work on the Vellalore bus stand will not be carried out anymore and the integrated bus stand has been shifted to another place. this has exploded into a controversy and has become a subject of debate.
*Is the integrated Vellalore Bus Stand being dropped for G Square?
The DMK, which started criticising the Vellalore Bus Stand when the construction of the bus stand began, has not given up criticising it till date. From the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin to the Power Minister Senthil Balaji, there have been criticisms at the construction of the integrated bus stand.
The DMK has also spoken about it in its election manifesto. It has also been alleged that the Vellalore Bus Stand is making way for G Square, a real estate company of a prominent DMK functionary for construction of a new modern apartment at L&T bypass. From a vegetable shop to a luxury mall, the construction of Tamil Nadu's first integrated city residential complex with helicopter-landing facilities has begun.
There have been criticisms that the Vellalore bus stand is being relocated for G Square since the development of this settlement requires integrated bus station transport facility.
*Field survey conducted by SimpliCity
The SimpliCity News Team has conducted a field inspection on the Vellalore bus stand issue which has created a lot of buzz. On the basis of the field inspection, some information has come to light:
The Vellalore Bus Stand has not been completely abandoned in the first phase.
As to the question that has arisen if Vellalore bus stand will be fully constructed and put to use.
What do authorities say?
Though the work on the Vellalore Bus Stand which was the talk of the town has been stopped, the project is yet to be completely abandoned by the Government. The study team will conduct two or more field studies and consultations with experts.
Officials also told SimpliCity that the controversy over the Vellalore Bus Stand will be put to an end only after the review and consultation meeting is over. Their argument is that since the construction work has been carried out on a large scale, it cannot be that a project has been taken up and then abandoned.
Officials have also said that the next move will be based on the recommendations of the Committee which has been set up since the views and suggestions of various stakeholders are being placed before the Committee.
At this stage, there seems to be no basis for the controversy over the displacing of the Vellalore Bus Stand for G Square with the integrated city planning for G Square being revealed in the same period.
Another question has already arisen even before the arrival of the G Square project. In terms of G Square City planning, only people from big economic backgrounds can settle here. The question of the extent to which they will use bus transport also generally arises.
In this situation, the question arises as to how true can the controversy that erupted be on the basis of reports that the Vellalore Bus Stand is being relocated for G Square.
What do the architects say?
Experts at the Coimbatore Master Plan Architect have said that an Integrated Bus Stand is necessary for Coimbatore. Accordingly, the L&T bypass road selected for the construction of an Integrated Bus Stand is the right one. Experts at the Master Plan Architect have said that the setting up in the interior areas of Vellalore is not the right choice for the Integrated Bus Station.
There is no comprehensive road facility to go to the interiors of the city, nor is there a comprehensive road to reach the bypass road from the bus station. Architects say that the travel utility of the bus stand, which is connected by the bridge and the interruption of the railway track, will not reach the public at large.
Which is the best place to set up an Integrated Bus Stand?
Roads, which play an important role in the planning for the development of Coimbatore, are situated in a linear system which can be called nero as far as traffic is concerned. This means that Avinashi and Trichy roads are the main roads of the city, while Sathyamangalam and Mettupalayam roads are the side roads for Avinashi Road and Pollachi, and Palakkad road is the side road for Trichy Road.
Therefore, experts have suggested that an Integrated Bus Stand should be constructed on the Trichy-Pollachi road to connect the side roads within these two straight roads. Master plan experts have suggested that the bus stand should be set up in the vicinity of the L&T bypass in particular.
What transport infrastructure does Coimbatore need in the future?
Architect experts have suggested that an additional town bus stand should be set up for Coimbatore, which is fast-growing. Master plan experts have suggested that town bus stations should be set up at places like Vellamadai towards Mettupalayam, Neelambur towards Annur and Vellalore towards Pollachi.
Since road transport infrastructure is essential for the development of the city as a whole, there has been a demand to implement the facilities with modern infrastructure for the public by avoiding controversies. They have said that the public's views should be sought along with the expert committee while formulating the plans.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is everyone's wish that the Government should plan for the development of civilization in the modern world, considering the need of the country.