The Hindu 04.10.2010
Call for underground cables on Cross-Cut Road, 100 Feet Road
Special Correspondent
Removing Obstacles: Councillors have suggested that the high-tension electricity lines on 100 Feet Road should be shifted underground.
COIMBATORE: Councillors of the Coimbatore Corporation have urged the civic body to devise a scheme to provide ducts for electricity lines on Cross-Cut Road and 100 Feet Road in the city.
The Corporation had intended to turn the 1.2 km Cross-Cut Road, a popular shopping centre, into a model road by providing good footpaths and ducts. The civic body now wanted to take up the footpath and storm water drain works as pedestrians were inconvenienced by the poor condition of the existing ones.
The Corporation wanted to removal all forms of obstacles that prevented pedestrians to walk comfortably along this road, including encroachments. As for 100 Feet Road, they said the high tension power lines running overhead should be shifted underground. But, the Corporation did not want to take up the duct work as it would incur an additional expenditure that it could not afford now.
Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra told the Council on Wednesday that the pavements and storm water drain works on Cross-Cut Road would cost Rs. 3 crore. The Corporation did not have the additional Rs. 3 crore for the ducts. Therefore, it would be ideal to take up the other two works on a priority basis as pedestrians suffered without good footpaths. The duct project could be taken up when funds were available, he said.
Some DMK members said after the Council meeting that Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy was willing to provide Rs.1 crore from his constituency development fund for shifting the lines underground.
