COIMBATORE: Aimed at making travel a chaos-free experience in Coimbatore, an industrial major and growing IT hub, a consultancy firm tasked with preparing a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) is likely to submit its report to the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) and Coimbatore Corporation on May 15.
ICRA Management Consulting Services Limited, on Wednesday, made a presentation of its findingd and recommendations to improve the city’s infrastructure, during the final stakeholders meeting held in the presence of Collector Archana Patnaik and Corporation Commissioner K Vijayakarthikeyan.
The CMP has recommended that the public transport share on road should be increased to at least 60 per cent from 42 within the next 15 to 20 years and modal share of pedestrians and cyclists to 20 per cent from 14. However, it has also proposed to stabilise the share of private motorised trips below 25 per cent as the ownership of private vehicles increases day by day.
Similarly, 75 per cent of primary (travel from one place to another without leaving the network) and secondary road (a feeder road) network with footpaths and facilities for seamless pedestrian movement and non-motorised traffic within the next five years have been proposed.
“We have proposed two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors and Light Rail transit (LRT) in Corporation limit and Local Planning Authority (LPA) limit. We have also suggested road infrastructure and development plan at 53 roads in Corporation limit, 11 within LPA limit and 11 outside,” a representative from the consultancy said.
As part of improvement in city bus system, eight bus terminals have been proposed in LPA limit and one bus terminal outside the limit. Similarly seven flyovers, eight rail overbridges and rail underbridges (RUB), 11 foot overbridges have been proposed at the CMP, he added.
Collector Archana Patnaik urged the consultant to look into the land requirement tor execute the projects.
“Instead of BRTS we have asked the consultant to give importance to LRTs as implemented in Kozhikode in Kerala. Coimbatore does not have large space for BRTS. However the consultant explained that importance will be given for both BRTS and LRTS,” said R Raveendran Secretary Residents Awareness association of Coimbatore (RAAC).
As per the CMP, none of the bus stands will be available inside the city limits and integrated bus stand will be setup at Vellalore. “However, there aren’t many routes to connect from Vellalore and besides, vehicles will be charged toll fee. Hence, we have asked the consultant to find more routes from there.” Raveendran added.
Stake holders have urged the consultant to find ways to reduce the traffic congestion at Coimbatore railway junction. The plan makes no mention of traffic hassles at the railway junction. “We have estimated about Rs 27,126 crore to implement all the projects. The report will be submitted on May 15 after consultation with all stakeholders,” said the consultant.
Corporation Commissioner Vijayakarthikeyan told Express that the civic body has urged the consultancy to include a multi-level car parking, footpath and green corridor while widening the arterial roads in Avinashi.
‘Quick Win Plans’ for Early Results
The Comprehensive Mobility plan has proposed ‘quick win projects’ which are expected to bring early results to reduce traffic congestion within the city limits, if implemented. It has proposed development measures to be taken up in five major junctions with installation of traffic signals, construction of flyover, footpath, and grade-separated pedestrian crossings.
Under the proposal, installation of traffic signals and geometric improvement have been proposed at Vilankurichi Junction, Avinashi Road, Dr Nanjappa Road Junction, Avainashi Road - Thottipalaym Road, Avinashi Road - Venkitapuram Junction, and a flyover constructed at Lakshmi Mills junction.
According to a consultant, these roads are dangerous for motorists, and there is greater chances of road accidents to happen. Even though these roads are used by a large number of motorists, there are no traffic signs, medians or speed breakers on the existing roads.
Development of grade-separated pedestrian crossing has been proposed to be constructed at the CMCH on the Tiruchy Road, the Coimbatore Railway Station, near Krishnamal College at Avinashi Road, and the Clock Tower Junction.
Apart from proposing 12 model roads in the city, the consultancy firm has also given importance to increase the green cover in the city, and has proposed a green project for the Perur lake.
The firm has been carrying out surveys as per the Ministry of Urban Development (MOUD) guidelines such as road network and inventory, speed and delay, traffic count and occupancy, origin-destination survey, and pedestrian survey.
Consultants are also making parking survey, terminal survey, commuter survey (public transport), household survey, vehicle survey, and topographic survey.
“Arterial corridors like Avinashi road, Mettupalayam road and Tiruchy road have an average peak hour traffic volume of 4,530 PCUs, and hence, the city requires corridor-level plans and mass transit interventions. Places like Avinashi road and Town Hall, Oppanakara street, DB road, Cross-cut road, and Raja street in the core area, are found to have high parking accumlation,” said the study.
Stumbling blocks
■ Bus terminals in Gandhipuram and Ukkadam not geared to handle traffic and interchange trips
■ Coimbatore has 38 buses for one lakh people, and fleet utilisation rate is 99.93 per cent
■ 80 per cent of even major arterial roads with available road space do not have footpaths
■ 75 per cent of footpaths are encroached and poorly maintained
■ Study found high levels of pedestrian-vehicle conflict