Ideas on integrated URBAN PLANNING - Coimbatore AND Erode ,. kindly have a glance

	Thu, Apr 19, 2018, 3:09 PM

Coimbatore – Copenhagen of Asia

(Inclusive growth oriented city for one and all)

Our cool city of Coimbatore is growing fast, rather very fast to our liking. Opportunities are becoming abundant qualitatively and quantitatively. We have some of the world class medical, educational, industrial, recreational facilities. Truly we are becoming an International city with physical, spiritual and virtual connectivity with the entire world (both developed and developing).

But let us be honest for a moment!

Is it inclusive growth?

Are we (the citizens of Coimbatore) getting benefits out of this mind boggling growth in an equitable and justifiable manner? Obviously not.

Our growth is benefiting only a part of the city population. A vast majority are being left out without any fault of theirs. They are driven out to the periphery of the city and they are being marginalized. It has already happened in countless cities around the world and the simmering inequalities are growing and the gaps are widening in our dear Covai too.

How to make our dear city a place for all?

Let us go by a step by step action plan.

1. We must get away from the mind set of Gandhipuram, RS puram, Race course centered city growth. Let us think of Avinashi to Mettupalayam, Sathy to Pollachi, and Palakadu to Somanur as part of Coimbatore Mega city.
2.  EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING RAILWAY RESOURCES IN COIMBATORE  -  (a THOUSAND CRORE under utilised asset )
3. 
   
4.                         BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains - BOON OR BANE ?
• BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains  and  the
  railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR - POTHANUR single
  railway line is generating strong opposition from a  influential
  section of people.                                                                                                              
  WITH due respects to them ,  I would like to  draw your attention to
  the possible benefits  of the above plans.
  Not long ago GANDHIPURAM is the only destination for all city buses,
  mofussil buses, THIRUVALLVAR STATE EXPRESS BUSES and expensive but
  comfortable OMNI buses. It was convenient to all stakeholders;
  travelling public and their friends and relatives  who are sending
  them off  / receiving them, both public and private bus operators and
  their staff, Taxi / Auto drivers,  traders, lodging and boarding
  houses ; almost all.
  Then the Ukkadam, Singanallur, Mettupalayam mofussil bus stands  and
  the OMNI bus stand near GP / ELLEN HOSPITALS were came into service.
  Perhaps some more mofussil  bus stands may come up on AVINASHI ROAD (
  peelamedu / kalapatti / CODDISIA )  and SATHY ROAD ( ganapathy). All
  these new developments are not convenient to all sections of people.
  Still we accepted it because of the inevitability of the change
  necessitated by ever increasing crowd.
  
  
  If we use same logic, then we will not only accept  but whole
  heartedly welcome the   BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long
  haul trains  and  the railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR -
  POTHANUR single  railway line.
  No TIER II city is so endowed with a super most energy efficient form
  of Transport which is already available in our  Coimbatore.
   An MRTS   (Mass Rapid Transport system )  of  17 kilometres  of DOUBLE LINES of ready availability !
   To realize this potential, We must get away from the mind set of
  Gandhipuram, RS puram, Race course centered city growth.
   Let us think of Avinashi to Mettupalayam, Sathy to Pollachi, and Palakadu to
  Somanur as part of Coimbatore Mega city
   We must treat Pothanur Railway Junction as  THE COIMBATORE DISTRICT
   ( or)  GREATER COIMBATORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY JUNCTION for all the
  Traffic passing through Coimbatore (Tirupur to Palakad and beyond
  Traffic). 
  
  What is the point in   routing these long haul trains through Singanallur, peelamedu , North Coimbatore etc.  to Coimbatore city junction
  (without any stoppages  enroute ) consuming fuel, space, time  (of
  both passengers and railways ) with  negligible tangible / intangible
  benefit to the   majority of common city folks, except the harassing / harassed
  shopkeepers and the taxi / auto operators.
  
  
  
  
  Frankly speaking, What is our problem with the Pothanur Railway
  Junction?
  Lack of connectivity,  is it not?
   It is not at all a problem : rather it is a golden opportunity to   develop  a new  Bus
  terminus near Pothanur Junction  with town buses,  mini buses, share
  autos, ordinary autos, call taxies etc.  for the hassle free travel of
  railway passengers boarding / alighting at pothanur.
  
   In effect , we will have a satellite railway junction immediately  without any mega
  investment.
  Thus freed railway line capacity between Irugur and Coimbatore
  Junction via Singanallur and Peelamedu can be used for city commuter
  traffic. THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL COIMBATOREANS (RESIDENTS AND VISITORS)
   It is not that we should abandon the Coimbatore junction. Rather, we
  must make it more passenger friendly and congestion free for
  Coimbatore city folks. Let us be very clear that all the trains
  originating and terminating at Coimbatore junction should continue to
  do so. Further, all the Coimbatore bound trains must stop at Irugur,
  Singanallur, Peelamedu, Coimbatore North and some more stations/halts
  to be created in proximity with Avinashi road (near CIT / CMC /
  CODDISIA / IT PARKS), Avaram palayam Road ( near Sri Ramakrishna
  Hospital),   Sathy Road (near Aswin Hospitals / Textool)  and a few
  more if demand is there.   
  In effect, it will make a significant segment of the Coimbatore city roads free from traffic congestion. Especially, it will make the Coimbatore junction    people friendly  and crowds
  will be manageable.
   Also it will improve the connectivity and thereby
  increase the  value of the residential / commercial / industrial properties along the IRUGUR-PEELAMEDU-North Coimbatore railway line.
  It will benefit not only the Coimbatore citizens but also the frequently visiting populations from Palladam, Tirupur, Erode and Salem, Palakadu, Mettupalayam etc, too.
  And some more COIMBATORE  terminating  trains (both from Tirupur and Palakkadu ) can be extended
  up to Mettupalayam so that we can reduce the enormous road traffic in
  the Mettupalayam High way.  By applying the same principle, we can
  serve commuters from Pollachi side too,  as   the gauge conversion is
  completed.
  
  Perhaps,  Railway administration can discuss these ideas in
  appropriate forums. { Coimbatore city corporation,  District
  Administration, Railway  user groups, Educational Institutions, Trade
  unions, CII and the likes, media (both print and electronic )
  CODDISSIA, SIMA, SITRA etc.etc

3. A mofussil bus terminus near Neelambur or atleast near Coddissia complex for Avinashi and beyond bound buses will reduce the congestion in the town. Of course, the much talked about  bus stand at the Mettupalayam road for the MTP bound buses will help reduce the maddening congestion at Gandhipuram.

4. Needless to say, all these new and existing bus terminuses in Avinashi road, Singanallur, Ukkadam, MTP road, Gandhipuram and perhaps one more at / or near Ganapathy etc. should be connected through town buses mini buses and share autos.  

5. Health is Wealth

Let us create or improve or improvise pedestrians walk ways / cycle paths in and along every arterial road and city roads also. We all know the importance of cycling / walking in the overall management of health of all the active people both at the individual and institutional level.

Why don’t we have “tour – de – covai” cycle race an annual event like the “tour – de – france”.  Further we can have covai marathons, walkathons, triathlons (cycling, walking, and running) as regional events to begin with. And with experience we can have national and international events.

6. Action plan for rejuvenation of closed / rundown / sick industrial units

It is simply cruel to keep hundreds of acres of land, thousands of dilapidated buildings and millions of rusting machines lying unused. Let us boldly take over them by the government and make use of those vacated space to have temporary parking lots, entertainment arenas or simple vacant space for public usage. When the dispute is settled in the courts, the city can hand over the land to the legal owners.    

7. Move away from the city centre

Is it really justifiable to have a jail in a city centre? Couldn’t we relocate it outside the city? Likewise many a centralized facilities which need not be housed within the city may conveniently be relocated out.

8. Movement for Waste in to Wealth

Already we have a clear understanding and appreciation in this front. We must scale up these efforts so that we can be a world leader in solid and liquid waste management.

9. Opportunities for small scale, independent vendors

By encouraging the vendors of tender coconuts, sugar cane juice, fresh fruit juices, homemade foods and snacks, butter milk / curd sellers and the likes we can provide jobs to the honest. Obviously we must discourage junk food vendors, carbonated soda sellers and the politically influential tobacco / alcohol lobby. It will result in duel benefit of gainful, meaningful, honest employment for the marginalized and the healthy alternative food for our fellow citizens.

10. We must encourage Farmers Market (Uzhavar Santhais), week end markets, evening and morning markets at open spaces including the vast parking lots of government offices.

11. Sanitation – Every major bus stop should have urinals for both men and women. Every terminus (trains, buses, Airport) should have toilet cum bathing complexes. They can be ideally designed as fertilizer / fuel / irrigation sources for the teeming population of ours. Sulabh International  will help us.

Erode; make it better to live and work

FLY OVER near ERODE G H

A   good number of well meaning folks believe  that  the about to be built  4 DIRECTION FLY OVER near ERODE G.H will reduce the traffic congestion there.

But, their hope is based on mirage and illusion.

Because , despite numerous fly overs built  in CHENNAI and else where,  we have never seen easy and smooth passage of vehicles in congested urban centres.

The solution lies in reduction in number of vehicles and people  coming over there.

People are not coming there by choice.

They are forced to come through that congested place.

Then, what to do to solve this congestion?

We can do certain things with out single paisa investment. However, we need to do a lot of changes in our every day life.

1.      We should  motivate  educational  Institutions, public libraries to  evolve suitable timings for hassle free transport.

  By opening one hour earlier, the peak hour traffic jams can be managed in most of the
cases.

                           Let us consider the opening   of  the educational institutions by 07.00 a.m. onwards  ( well before morning peak hours ).

  They can complete the classes conveniently,  before the evening peak hours, say by  02.00 p.m. onwards

. If  second shift is considered, it can commence by 11.30 a.m. onwards. ( well after morning peak hours)
They can conclude the classes by 06.00 p.m. onwards


2.      Open   the Banks and financial institutions    ( and if possible  govt  offices  too  ) one hour earlier  and close them too one hour earlier. Their actual numbers may not be very large, but their influence is tremendous .
3.      Just like Railway  booking offices  and Head post offices, the public contact points of at least a few  Banks  &  financial institutions   and govt  offices  can work  7 days  a week (362  days) . Non policy issues, routine services  ( paying electricity bills, municipal taxes, getting a demand draft, registering birth /death  etc.)

4.      Charge  parking fees for all  MOTORISED TRANSPORT  vehicles  in  main public  roads according to their occupying space and time   ( Let us give the contract to local  body elected representatives  and their associates, so that they can earn their money legally)
5.      Encourage the usage of the CAUVERY  RIVER BARRAGE BRIDGES by providing    licenses / permits to Govt & Private bus / minibus / College Bus  operators. .  In fact they are the essential factors in our ring road concepts.
6.      Permit, develop, initiate, encourage  Bye – Pass services (  both  mofussil  & town buses).  Look at the   CONTINUING success of the age old ERODE GH – SPB colony  town bus service  and the  SALEM – COIMBATOE, SALEM – TIRUPUR mofussil  services )
7.      Provide Stoppages for some more trains  at SANKAGIRI, KODUMUDI, PERUNDURAI / ENGUR railway stations
8.      Provide  a stoppage for the YERCAUD  EXPRESS at CAUVERY R.S ( PALLIPALYAM / SPB and the neighbourhood area residents  will also be happy)
9.      As an aside, Permitting AUTO STANDS,  BUS STOPS, MINI BUS TERMINUS, SHARE AUTO
STAND, Two Wheeler parkings,  car parkings,  and   ATMs of BANKS at  the Railway Colony side of the   ERODE Railway Junction  will reduce the congestion at the  front side  and will generate
revenue for the railways without single paise investment.

.

Things to do with minimum investment  and maximum benefit.

First, relocate the BUS STAND to city outskirts.

Second, complete  the RING ROAD.

Third invest more in the IRTT medical college and hospitals   

 Finally, develop  the neighbourhood small towns’  Govt Hospitals, Primary Health Centres,  BUS STANDS, Whole Sale Markets of agricultural produces ( Chithode, Kavindapadi, Chennimalai, Kodumudi, Pallipalayam, Thindal, Perundurai etc) 

Ofcourse , the above remedies are applicable  universally.

Why not  ERODE   take a pioneering lead  in this generic problem of growing urban space ? 

RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT MUCH CAPITAL INVESTMENT

Millions  of  people all over the world  are   train enthusiasts. I am  one among them.

Many  people are regular, dedicated, faithful, loyal   users  of  trains   even if the train services  are  not  frequent, expensive   and  more time  consuming than  road transport  because of it’s sheer convenience and comfort.

 One  problem in our  Indian railway system  is under utilization of assets  whether it be rolling stock  or the buildings

.          

Are we use the rolling stock fully? Do we have some sort of HOURS PER DAY / KILOMETRES PER WEEK index  for the trains?

LET US FOLLOW THE BUS / LORRY  SECTOR’S  PRODUCTIVITY MAXIM ;  START EARLIER & RUN LONGER (avoid crowded  inner cities, serve them by slow moving , decentralized, frequently halting  local services)

==================================================================

Are we using the UNI GAUGE SYSTEM TO THE FULL EXTENT?

Why still the  erstwhile  metre gauge   sections (now fully converted  to BG ) are not fully assimilated with existing BG section ?

For example, what is the benefit of terminating most of the trains  Chennai Central /  Egmore.

Let  atleast a few of the the  Egmore  trains ply up north to Vijayawada / Guntur / Nellore  or west to AVADI / THIRUNINDRAVUR / ARAKONAM  OR EVEN KATAPADI.

Like wise few trains via ARAKONAM proceed up to Perambur  as usual then proceed either north  to  Vijayawada / Guntur / Nellore  TOWARDS  or  south to Egmore  / Tambaram / Chinglepet via BEACH STATION

Let CHENNAI CENTRAL   TERMINUS be  like   BOMBAY CHRUCHGATE catering the city commuters 

=====================================================================

Why  we are not using the newly converted  BG lines fully?

What is the utility efficiency of Cuddalore – Vriddhachalam – Salem – Karur – dindigul   railway assets?

Also  Karaikal – Nagapattinam – Tiruvarur –Thanjavur _Trichy can be integrated with Erode segment more frequently.

Why we are not bye passing the crowded inner cities,  even after completion of loop lines ?

Trains from SOUTH towards  WEST  via Bangalore need not touch inner cities : instead they may proceed via Krishna raja puram.

Like wise Bombay can be skipped by running the  trains  via Kalyan and Vapi  towards Gujarat /  Rajasthan / New Delhi   and vice versa. People from the  west   and the north can   get down at  VAPI  Tto board the western railway  MEMUs   or proceed  up  to KALYAN and hop in to the central railway     

What are the benefits ?  More space for local trains and less crowd at inner city railway stations.

Imagine  the freedom to operate numerous  MEMU trains IN THE STRESSED RAILWAY LINE OF  THE MUMBAI RAILWAY LINE.

In  the newspaper industry the newspaper buyers are providing only 20 – 40 %  of cash flow.

Rest   comes from advertisers.

 Have we explored the possibilities of  the advertisement revenue  in the railway system?

 Apart from the travelling public, their friends & relatives , associates, subordinates etc.,  who are coming to the railway premises for   send off or  receiving   and the various service providers  and ofcourse neighbourhood  residing folks  spend a lot of calm /crowd free / leisure time in railway stations. THIS IS A HUGE POPULATION TO IGNORE. This segment is economically active and a   captive mass market for advertisers.

           

First let us begin with the name of the trains and railway stations.

For example,  Tamilnadu Express can be renamed as, say  XYZ Tamilnadu Express  by getting sponsorship money from XYZ.

Likewise Station  names   can be prefixed   with sponsors names / brands etc.

Here , the top brass must take the initiative.

======================================================================

In reserved coaches we can double the  capacity  by permitting two people to occupy one birth. (    A small change in Railways's child fare rule could ensure the availability of 20 million additional confirmed berths or seats in a year for other passengers without the state-run transporter spending a single penny , while adding over Rs 525 crore annually to its coffers.

This could be made possible with the decision to charge full fare for children aged 5-12 if a separate seat or berth is sought. Till now, children in this age group were entitled to a separate seat or berth at half the fare.

Now, the half rate is still available, but without a seat or berth. In such cases, parents or the accompanying passenger will have to share their reserved space with the kids. Children under five years of age will continue to enjoy free ride (without a berth)

A lot of people are travelling in groups. If two or more  people reserve for their journey in a single reservation application,   they can be given an option of sharing their seats / births. It will reduce the total cost of travelers,  unauthorized  travelers in reserved compartments , reduce waiting list and   ofcourse increase the  revenue for the railways.

==========================================================================

Differential pricing  in railway tickets. Week ends, holidays, festival travel can be prized significantly more  and lean period journeys can be less expensive

All said and done ,  Railway development , capacity enhancement,   productivity improvement etc.    can happen only, if only if we accept ,  permit, facilitate, support and encourage investments and initiatives of every nature ( Private, Public , Co-Operatives, charities / TRUSTS, MLA / MP CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS,  Joint ventures - Local and foreign ).

 Please look at the rapid and enormous developments happened in the Education, Telecom, Electronic media  and road sector.  Even with  the  notorious   SCAMS &  bad loans, unfinished   projects, COSTLY TOLL RATES etc,  still the developments in these sectors propels our GDP, INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT  & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, REDUCE THE  chronic shortage     Supremacy of the railway transportation should be a national objective and obsession instead of the present road based initiatives.

 Economically and environmentally speaking, the road transportation should supplement and complement, not substitute, compete or dominate the railways and waterways systems.

 A  minimum required number of passenger / goods-trains and ships / boats
should have roll-on, roll-off facility for Lorries, buses and cars.
Even two-wheelers and bi-cycles may be permitted in select passenger
trains. This will reduce our total fuel consumption and will make a
significant dent in the number of accidents happening in our highways

============================================================

ORIGINATE  THE ERODE based  PASSENGER TRAINS at SALEM / KARUR  ;   

                    and

THE SALEM / KARUR  based  PASSENGER TRAINS at ERODE . 

 For example , two passenger trains commence their daily journey towards Coimbatore, by 7.00 am and 7.45 am  and ends up by 7.00pm and 8.00pm respectively.

Couldn’t we start them  (and ofcourse terminate them ) at SALEM / KARUR so that we can have about extra 120 Kilometres  of usage of these  two trains in the  crowded corridor .

Let us  do the same  for  THE SALEM / KARUR  based  PASSENGER TRAINS by originating  and terminating  at ERODE . 

Reduce the crowds at Tirupur, Erode railway stations by providing stoppages

at   the Somanur, Perundurai, Sankari and Kodumudi stations

The stretch between SALEM -   ERODE -KARUR   is being decongested by the recently

 commissioned  SALEM – KARUR railway line .  For a good measure  already the PALAKKAD – POLLACHI  GAUGE CONVERSION IS completed

And hopefully  on completion of  gauge conversion of  PODHANUR -

POLLACHI  section,  PALAKKAD - ERODE - COIMBATORE SECTION will have some   free space and time.

In effect, about 200 kilometres  of railway track ( SALEM – ERODE – COIMABTORE – PALAKKAD   electrified double track )  will have the traffic density eased.  

Why should not we use this opportunity to  reduce the crowds at Tirupur,

Erode railway stations by halting some more  trains at   the Somanur,

Perundurai, Sankari and Kodumudi stations

Think of the developments in the way side stations and subsequent revenues from them not only

from  ticket sales but also from VENDOR FEES, PARKING FEES etc.

And look at the huge benefits for the travelling public, less traffic in the road sector and  the consequent

reduction in fossil fuel usage.

Hope and pray Salem Division rail  authorities will oblige

==========================================================

>  Effective and Efficient  use of existing resources    in the    SALEM DIVISION  OF THE RAILWAY SYSTEM .

( WITHOUT A SINGLE PAISA INVESTMENT )

1.      In the Railway Colony side of the   ERODE Railway Station,

Permitting AUTO STANDS,  BUS STOPS, MINI BUS TERMINUS, SHARE AUTO

STAND, Two Wheeler parkings,  car parkings,  and   ATMs of BANKS  will

reduce the congestion at the station front side  and will generate

revenue for the railways without single paise investment.

Above all it will reduce the potential for accidents at station entry/exit.

2.       The   ERODE – COIMBATORE  passenger  train     leaves   ERODE BY

7.00AM AND RETURNS BY 8,30 PM AFTER MAKING TWO SHUTTLE TRIPS.  It can

very well be extended to SALEM  by starting it at  SALEM by 5.30 am

and terminating there by 10.00pm.    It will help both Tirupur  &

COIMBATORE bound PASSENGERS  from SALEM onwards and vice versa.

Further it will make the small railway stations more active with

regular  passengers  (Industrial workers , students , and  small scale

vendors )

3.  Similarly,  SALEM -     YESHVANTPUR    passenger train  can very

well start at ERODE  BY 4.30 AM  and terminated  by 11.00pm (It does

not involve any additional expenditure, no new space requirement ; 2

new   passenger services for  ERODE – SALEM SEGMENT)

4. The poorly patronised   ERODE – SALEM   segment of ERODE – METTUR

DAM        can be withdrawn  and it can serve as    METTUR DAM –SALEM

– VRIDDHACHALAM- CUDDALORE – METTUR DAM   operation. (Puducherry,

Chidambaram  passengers will also  use it will be near to them:

ofcourse NEYVELI  and Saint Ramalingasami’s Vadalore too )  Passengers

 from Erode onwards    can still use it by boarding the Erode –

Yeswantpur  passenger train.

5. The   ERODE  - TRICHY  passenger train  can easily  be extended

to Tanjaviur  by  starting it at Erode an hour earlier.    Further ,

by clubbing     NAGAPATTINAM / NAGORE/ ANNAI VELANKANNI./ KARIKAL  bound

services  with this ERODE – TRICHY train we can integrate seamlessly

the  WESTERN DISTRICTS  WITH EASTERN DISTRICTS  . Tourism  will

flourish. All religious pilgrims  {Hindus, Muslims, Christians )  will

bless the RAILWAYS with revenue.

6.  Erode – Tirunelveli   passenger service can be extended up  to

Trichendur. (  Let us get the benefit of the UNIGAUGE  SYSTEM:  Let us

get rid of the shackles of long gone METRE GAUGE )

FOR COIMBATORE;

BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains  and  the

railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR - POTHANUR single

railway line is generating strong opposition from a  influential

section of people.

With due respects to them ,  I would like to  draw your attention to

the possible benefits  of the above plans.

Not long ago GANDHIPURAM is the only destination for all city buses,

mofussil buses, THIRUVALLVAR STATE EXPRESS BUSES and expensive but

comfortable OMNI buses. It was convenient to all stakeholders;

travelling public and their friends and relatives  who are sending

them off  / receiving them, both public and private bus operators and

their staff, Taxi / Auto drivers,  traders, lodging and boarding

houses ; almost all.

Then the Ukkadam, Singanallur, Mettupalayam mofussil bus stands  and

the OMNI bus stand near GP / ELLEN HOSPITALS were came into service.

Perhaps some more mofussil  bus stands may come up on AVINASHI ROAD (

peelamedu / kalapatti / CODDISIA )  and SATHY ROAD ( ganapathy). All

these new developments are not convenient to all sections of people.

Still we accepted it because of the inevitability of the change

necessitated by ever increasing crowd.

If we use same logic, then we will not only accept  but whole

heartedly welcome the   BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long

haul trains  and  the railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR -

POTHANUR single  railway line.

No TIER II city is so endowed with a super most energy efficient form

of Transport which is already available in our  Coimbatore. An MRTS

of ready availability !

To realize this potential, We must get away from the mind set of

Gandhipuram, RS puram, Race course centered city growth. Let us think

of Avinashi to Mettupalayam, Sathy to Pollachi, and Palakadu to

Somanur as part of Coimbatore Mega city

 We must treat Pothanur Railway Junction as  THE COIMBATORE DISTRICT

( or)  GREATER COIMBATORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY JUNCTION for all the

Traffic passing through Coimbatore (Tirupur to Palakad and beyond

Traffic).   What is the point in   routing these long haul trains

through Singanallur, peelamedu etc.  to Coimbatore city junction

(without any stoppages  enroute ) consuming fuel, space, time  (of

both passengers and railways ) without any tangible / intangible

benefit to the common city folks, except the harassing / harassed

shopkeepers and the taxi / auto operators.

Frankly speaking, What is our problem with the Pothanur Railway

Junction? Lack of connectivity,  is it not?  It is not at all a

problem : rather it is a golden opportunity to   develop  a new  Bus

terminus near Pothanur Junction  with town buses,  mini buses, share

autos, ordinary autos, call taxies etc.  for the hassle free travel of

railway passengers boarding / alighting at pothanur. In effect , we

will have a satellite railway junction immediately  without any mega

investment.

Thus freed railway line capacity between Irugur and Coimbatore

Junction via Singanallur and Peelamedu can be used for city commuter

traffic. THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL COIMBATOREANS (RESIDENTS AND VISITORS)

 It is not that we should abandon the Coimbatore junction. Rather, we

must make it more passenger friendly and congestion free for

Coimbatore city folks. Let us be very clear that all the trains

originating and terminating at Coimbatore junction should continue to

do so. Further, all the Coimbatore bound trains must stop at Irugur,

Singanallur, Peelamedu, Coimbatore North and some more stations/halts

to be created in proximity with Avinashi road (near CIT / CMC /

CODDISIA / IT PARKS), Avaram palayam Road ( near Sri Ramakrishna

Hospital),   Sathy Road (near Aswin Hospitals / Textool)  and a few

more if demand is there. In effect, it will make a significant segment

of the Coimbatore city roads free from traffic congestion. Especially,

it will make the Coimbatore junction    people friendly  and crowds

will be manageable. Also it will improve the connectivity and thereby

increase the  value of the residential / commercial / industrial

properties along the IRUGUR-PEELAMEDU-North Coimbatore railway line.

It will benefit not only the Coimbatore citizens but also the

frequently visiting populations from Palladam, Tirupur, Erode and

Salem, Palakadu, Mettupalayam etc, too.  And some more COIMBATORE

terminating  trains (both from Tirupur and Palakkadu ) can be extended

up to Mettupalayam so that we can reduce the enormous road traffic in

the Mettupalayam High way.  By applying the same principle, we can

serve commuters from Pollachi side too,  once the gauge conversion is

completed.

Perhaps,  Railway administration can discuss these ideas in

appropriate forums. { Coimbatore city corporation,  District

Administration, Railway  user groups, Educational Institutions, Trade

unions, CII and the likes, media (both print and electronic )

CODDISSIA, SIMA, SITRA etc.etc }

METTUPALAYAM   ( Tamil Nadu ) -  CHAMRAJ NAGAR ( Karnataka )
connecting   NEW  RAILWAY  LINE  project  is not in the newspapers for
long time.
 Atleast  here, NO NEWS IS NOT GOODNEWS.
This project is being kept in abeyance for decades due to the just
opposition from   the concerned environment groups.
There are even newspaper reports  about the SUPREME COURT appointed
environment experts committee’s opposition to this project.
But it is high time to revisit this matter and rethink about the
potential damages to the  possible hazards to environment.
Surely, any human activity,  at this level, in the forests , will
definitely do harm  to the environment.
But, on the other hand,  by not taking up and implementing this
railway project,  we are actually and increasingly do more harm to the
environment.
Because, as it is NOT A  NO GO ZONE,  due to  the  lack of  railway
connectivity, the only mode of transportation is road,  which is more
damaging to the environment than the railways, in terms of fuel
consumption  & pollution, frequent  accidents, increased man  - animal
conflicts  etc.
THE RAILWAY LINE CAN BE BUILT ALONG THE EXISTING ROAD CONNECTIVITY
WITH LEAST DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
In railway being, a central govt  establishment with more than a
century and half expertise, we can have better compliance with
environment norms.
From the experience gained from   the  not so past gruesome, horrible,
sad   fatal  accidents involving the majestic elephants  throughout
our vast nation  including southern railways,  we can surely build
elephant  friendly   modern  railway lines  with  better safeguards
and  easy pathways for the animals.

It is time the railway activists   and the railway   administration to
step up  the individual and collective  efforts to build this railway
line   to protect our environment.

 FOR TIRUPUR;

UNDER PUBLIC  / PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SYSTEM

Relocating the GOODS TERMINAL  being operated in TIRUPUR STATION to VANJI PALAYAM  / KOOLI PALAYAM )