The Hindu              16.08.2013

Mayor announces top-class convention centre for Madurai

Special Correspondent

9.5-acre site identified at Avaniapuram to build air-conditioned facility on the lines of Chennai Trade Centre

Plans are afoot to construct a convention centre at Avaniapuram at an estimated cost of Rs.6 crore. Around 9.5 acres of Corporation land have been identified for this purpose.

This was the major announcement made by Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa after unfurling the national flag in the presence of Corporation Commissioner R.Nanthagopal and senior officials during the 67th Independence Day celebrations here on Thursday.

The Mayor said funding for the project was expected to come in from the Tourism Department.

“Encroachments on the site have been removed and preliminary works will commence soon,” he said in an informal chat with reporters.

According to the Corporation Commissioner, the proposed Madurai Convention Centre will be on the lines of the Chennai Trade Centre.

“Even though we have Tamukkam Grounds to host big events, there is no air-conditioned auditorium there. The proposed convention centre will have A/C halls and adequate parking space,” Mr.Nanthagopal said.

Construction of the compound wall at the site was likely to begin this month, he added.

Dog vaccination

The Mayor said the proposed mass anti-rabies vaccination drive targeting stray and domestic dogs would be carried out in all the 100 wards from September 1 to 15, under the supervision of experts from the London-based World Veterinary Service.

Mr. Chellappa also said a special scheme called ‘Azhagiya Madurai Managara Thittam’, focused on providing basic amenities and sanitation, would run through the year.

Later, students of various Corporation schools performed cultural programmes depicting the freedom struggle.Top performers in public examinations were felicitated.

Deputy Mayor R.Gopalakrishnan, Chief Town Planning Officer M.Rakkappan, City Engineer (in-charge) A.Mathuram, zonal chairmen and councillors were among those who participated in the celebrations.

The Hindu              13.08.2013

LEDs to replace 29,000 street lights

Staff Reporter

Coimbatore Corporation will replace all the street lights in added areas and install new lights wherever required. Mayor S.M. Velusamy told reporters here that in the 40 wards in added areas, the Corporation would replace 29,000 street lights with LEDs.

But the process would begin only after the Corporation obtained the audit report from the auditor engaged for the purpose. The auditor would study the 40 wards for about four months and submit a report.

Thereafter, the Corporation would engage the agency that had won the tender for the purpose to replace the lights. The entire process would take about 16 months.

By the end of 2014, the added areas would be on a par with the old city areas as far as street lighting was concerned. He said that in the last Council meeting the Corporation had passed a resolution in this regard. The entire project would cost around Rs. 20 crore.

Mr. Velusamy said that the Corporation would not pay the contractor upfront. It would install around 50 per cent and then wait for the performance of the street lights. The contractor had to establish that the LEDs consumed 35 per cent less power compared to conventional street lights and only then the civic body would release the instalments over a period of five years. This had been factored into the contract agreement, he said.

Even as the work was in progress, the Corporation would also initiate a similar move to replace lights and poles in the old city areas. This had been discussed in the last Council meeting, he added.

Contractors will not be paid upfront Performance of the lights to be monitored.