The Hindu 10.01.2014
Corporation to get administrative sanction for bus stand in Srirangam
6.69-acre site identified at Panchakarai for the project at a cost of Rs. 24 crore
Tiruchirapalli City Corporation would soon move the
government to get administrative sanction for establishing a bus stand
for the heritage town of Srirangam at Panchakarai on the banks of the
Coleroon.
The corporation that had appointed a
consultant to design and prepare a detailed estimate for the project has
finalised the 6.69-acre site at Panchakarai, adjacent to Yatri Nivas
that is coming up there. The site was narrowed down after four or five
options were considered, officials said. On Thursday, Local
Administration Minister K.P. Munusamy inspected the site along with T.P.
Poonachi, Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, R. Manoharan,
Chief Whip, Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, and corporation
officials.
Despite being a major tourist attraction,
Srirangam does not have a proper bus stand. Town and mofussil buses and
tourist vehicles have to be parked on the roadside. The town with a
population of about 1.02 lakh attracts a floating population of about
20,000 every day. Nearly 300 tourist vehicles visit the town every day.
The corporation has decided to establish the bus stand at a cost of Rs.
24 crore on a portion of its old sewage treatment farm.
“The
conceptual plan has been finalised. We will soon forward a proposal to
the government for getting administrative sanction,” Corporation
Commissioner V.P. Thandapani told
The Hindu
.
He said while the bus stand with 26 bus bays and
associate amenities would be set up in an area of about three acres, a
parking lot for four-wheelers and two-wheelers would be established in
the remaining portion of the land in the rear.
The
civic body has decided to divert the sewage flow to the farm through a
separate drain under Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Project (TURIP) at a
cost of Rs. 3.2 crore and the work has commenced. The drain will be
connected to the new underground drainage (UGD) system currently being
established in Srirangam, Mr. Thandapani said.
Mr.
Munusamy also inspected the progress of work on the UGD and drinking
water supply augmentation scheme for the city being implemented with
Japanese assistance.