Coimbatore: With the state assembly election around the corner, the AIADMK government is all set to get the development projects rolling before the model code of conduct comes into force.
In January, the state highways department would commence work on the western ring road project by laying road for a 7km stretch from Madukkarai, while the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) would start implementing the Pillur-III drinking water scheme for at least 5km at Thekkampatti near Mettupalayam.
An official with the revenue department said senior officials and special tahsildars, who were deployed for acquiring land for the western ring road, had held talks with the villagers of Madukkarai, Perur Chettipalayam, Theethipalayam, Madampatti and Madukkarai a week ago.
“The villagers don’t have any opposition and we will take over the land and hand them over to the state highways department to start the project. The highways department is expected to lay the road for at least 7km from Mayilkal near Madukkarai in January,” the official said.
The project to lay the four-lane western ring road for a total of 32.4km from Mayilkal to Narasimmanaickenpalayam was conceived with an objective of reducing traffic congestion in the district. The state government has sanctioned Rs845 crore for the project. From that, Rs 320 crore would be spent on land acquisition. According to the official, land has to be acquired from 15 revenue villages.
The Pillur-III drinking water project would, meanwhile, be implemented from Thekkampatti to Pannimadai, covering areas such as Marudhur, Gudalur, Naickenpalayam, Narasimmanaickenpalayam, Kurudampalayam and Nanjundapuram. The project will be implemented by the TWAD.
The project cost is pegged at Rs 750 crore, of which Rs 100 crore would be spent on land acquisition. Around 162 acres land has already been identified for the project. A whopping 125 acres is owned by 411individuals, while the remaining 37 acres is with the state government.
A source with the TWAD said the pipeline for the project would be laid for at least 5km from Thekkampatti in January.