For the last fifteen years, it’s apparent that none of the direct programs proposed by the central government for Coimbatore have been executed yet due to the confusion among the people’s representatives and the state government. Coimbatore, the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu, is experiencing various plans implemented by both the central and state governments. Some projects are funded equally by both governments, while others are being initiated with the state government’s financial contributions. ‘Smart City’ project announced for Coimbatore was 50% funded by the central government. Additionally, the city is being developed with various schemes such as ‘Amruth’ and Swachh Bharat receiving budgetary allocations.
Numerous projects have been declared directly for Coimbatore by the central government. In 2010, the government announced establishing eight IITs, seven IIMs, 16 central universities, and 14 world-class universities across the country, with Coimbatore being the city for a world-class central university. However, only IIM, Trichy NIT campus and Central University, Tiruvarur have been established within the notification. The world-class Central University’s proposal for Coimbatore has only remained at the announcement stage.
Coimbatore was among the 19 second-tier cities in India elected for the metro rail project in 2011. However, the state government has so far allocated only Rs 9,000 crore for the project, and no announcement has been made about the central government’s contribution. In 2017, the city was selected for the ‘Bus Port’ project, but it failed due to the smell of the garbage dump.
The green corridor between Coimbatore-Karur was also announced by the central government and approved in the 2017-2018 budget for the Bharatmala project. However, till now, no funds have been assigned to the project. The lack of interest from the people’s representatives and the Tamil Nadu government’s insufficient efforts are the main reasons for the incomplete plans. Natarajan, who was selected as Coimbatore MP in 2019, opposed the Bharatmala project, which is a significant reason for its delay.
-Our Special Correspondent-
In Coimbatore, the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, various schemes are being implemented by the central and state governments. For some of these projects, both the governments make equal financial contributions. Some schemes are implemented by state government departments with financial contribution from central government.
The central government has also funded 50 percent of the ‘Smart City’ project announced for Coimbatore by the central BJP government. A lot of development work is going on in Coimbatore with various schemes like ‘Amruth’ and Swachh Bharat being allocated funds.
Unachieved projects
Many projects have been announced directly for Coimbatore by the central government. In 2010, in the 11th five-year plan of the central government, when it was announced that eight IITs, seven IIMs, 16 central universities and 14 world-class universities would be established across the country, Coimbatore was chosen as the city to set up a world-class central university.
The IIM, Trichy NIT campus and Central University, Tiruvarur have been set up in the notification. But the world-class Central University announced for Coimbatore has stopped at the announcement stage. Next, in 2011, Coimbatore was among the 19 second-tier cities in India selected for the metro rail project.
But only after 12 years, the state government has allocated Rs 9,000 crore; So far, no announcement has been made about the central government’s financial contribution.
After that, in 2017, Coimbatore was also selected for the ‘Bus Port’ project, a bus stand parallel to the airport, in the Bharatmala project of the central government. In Vellalur, the place chosen by the corporation for this purpose in Coimbatore, the project also fell through due to the stench and unhygienic nature of the corporation’s garbage dump.
Apathy
In the Bharatmala project, the green corridor between Coimbatore-Karur was also announced by the central government and approved in the 2017-2018 budget. Till now no funds have been allocated for this project. Natarajan, who was selected as Coimbatore MP in 2019, is the main reason for his opposition to this project.
In the last 15 years, none of the direct projects announced by the central government for Coimbatore have been implemented till date. It cannot be denied that the lack of interest of the people’s representatives here and the lack of effort of the Tamil Nadu government are the main reasons for these schemes to be incomplete.
-Our Special Correspondent-