Coimbatore: Following the directions of the high-power standing committee which gives final nod to implement ‘Smart City’ projects, the Coimbatore Corporation will revise three of its submitted projects for the second time.
During the high-power committee meeting which held on Wednesday, the corporation has submitted three projects – phase one of lake rejuvenation and restoration project and two model road projects at Race Course Road and TV Samy Road.
After reviewing the projects, the committee has directed the civic body to revise the cost estimations for all the projects. As per the direction, the corporation will hold discussions with the designers to reduce the cost estimation, said a senior official from the civic body.
For the projects, the officials had estimated 70% of the cost under government fixed schedule of rates (SOR) price and 30% of the cost as per the market value.
Since the market value is higher than the SOR price, the committee has directed to revise the budget, the official said.
The committee wants to bring 90% of the cost under SOR and depending upon the products that are chosen as per market value, the cost would reduce, the official said. Upon changing as per the direction, the cost would come down drastically along with the quality of the project.
“The corporation does not want to compromise on the quality of the projects and it would have to find a way to cut the estimated cost without diluting the standards,” the official added.
The civic body has already reduced the cost of phase one of lake rejuvenation project from Rs 357 crore to Rs 206 crore without removing any of the proposed components.
Under the lake rejuvenation project, the civic body is to adapt a unique water treatment method, decentralized natural waste water treatment system (DEWATS), to treat the water before letting it into the tanks, apart from establishing eateries and recreation activities.
After DB Road, the corporation has proposed to implement model road projects at Race Course Road and TV Samy Road to convert them into pedestrian-friendly, to increase vegetation and to implement rainwater harvesting system.
