Ever since Coimbatore has been declared as a Smart City, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) is on a spree introducing and implementing various projects and initiatives that will help in transforming Namma Coimbatore. One such project that has been launched by CCMC is Model Roads project.
Model Roads, as the name suggests, are those streets that will be exemplary of the kind that Coimbatore will have in the future - a model to look up to. Some of the key features of the Model Roads include high quality walking and cycling facilities, improved access to public transport, organised parking and vending zones and streamlined junctions. In an age when most road projects prioritise personal motor vehicles, CCMC aims to implement these Model Roads which will offer convenience and safety to all users equitably.
A majority of the initiatives of the CCMC are citizen oriented that involve the participation of the public. Model Roads is one such project where the CCMC has shortlisted 6 roads in our city which will be transformed into Model Roads.
For the first phase of the Model Roads project, CCMC has selected 6 streets, namely, DB Road, TV Swamy Road, Sanganoor Road, NSR Road, Masakalipalayam Road and Race Course Road, adding up to 13.1 kms. Architects were empanelled to redesign the streets and the proposals for all 6 roads are now ready. In August 2016, a resolution was passed by the Corporation at a council meeting to sanction Rs 5.47 crores to take up D.B and T.V Swamy roads in the first phase of construction. Tenders to start work on these roads were floated towards the end of last year. The work on TV Swamy Road and D B Road has begun. Work on the remaining 4 roads will begin as a part of the second phase.
In order to take inputs from the public for its Model Roads project, the CCMC along with Coimbatore City Police and Coimbatore Smart City Limited is hosting a two-day exhibition at the Kalaiarangam in the city. This exhibition was declared open this morning,
G Prakash, Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Dr Vijayakarthikeyan, Commissioner, CCMC, Majumdar, Director of internal finance, Minister of Urban Development, Sandde N, Commissioner, Madurai Corporation, B Gandhimathi, Deputy Commissioner, CCMC, Shreya G, Director, The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and C.R. Swaminathan, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) were present during the inauguration of this exhibition. The public is encouraged to visit and contribute with their thoughts on the proposal and ways to better the existing conditions.
At this inaugural programme, Dr Vijayakarthikeyan said “The aim of Model Roads is to ensure that our roads are made for all, the pedestrians and the vehicles. We will work towards ensuring that a uniform carriage bay is created, intersections on the roads will also be designed efficiently and the foot path on the roads will be made pedestrian friendly.”
In his address to the audience, Majumdar said “The purpose of hosting this workshop is to involve the members of the public. It is indeed a matter of pride for the city, as Coimbatore is one of the 100 cities that is chosen as a Smart City. You the citizens of Coimbatore must provide innovative and workable inputs that can make Coimbatore truly smart.”
At this programme, representatives from Arth Agam Design Studio and Design Consortium made a presentation on how the two roads namely the D B Road and T V Swamy Road are being transformed into Model Roads. Shreya from ITDP also made a presentation titled ‘Namma Kovai Nammake’ on how our city will be transformed if traffic on our roads is managed better, parking improves and the footpaths are made pedestrian friendly.
This two day exhibition also has on display a pictorial display of the 6 roads that have been chosen as Model Roads. People are invited to visit this exhibition and offer their inputs. Entry to Smart Streets is free. Visiting hours are 11 am and 7:30 pm. This exhibition will conclude tomorrow, 19 February.