Will Kovai projects get funds in budget?

Coimbatore: The residents of Coimbatore hope that adequate funds are allocated to the district for long-pending projects in the state budget for 2023-24 to be presented on Monday (March 20).
The residents have been fuming that several projects, some as rudimentary as proper motorable roads, announced during the previous budgets are pending for years.
Residents wanted the government to allocate funds to commence preliminary works for the metro rail project; shift the central prison; establish Semmozhi Poonga; construct flyovers at Singanallur and Lawley Road; lay Western Ring Road; and shift the integrated bus terminus to an alternative location since the Vellalore site has been abandoned.
Though senior officials inspected the site for shifting the central prison on Saturday, no funds have been allocated for the work yet.
Similarly, a couple of projects announced in the last year’s budget, like the development of Sethumadai as an eco-tourism hub, have also seen no progress.
“Forget about big-ticket projects, even funds for road repair works have not been allocated,” an office-bearer of an industry body said, referring to the promise of relaying all damaged roads in the city at a cost of 200 crore.
Out of the promised 200 crore, only 26 crore has been allotted. “There is no sign of Singanallur flyover work commencing. Only projects carried out with the Smart City funding are underway in the city,’’ he said.
While the Coimbatore international airport expansion work has been dragging for years despite the allocation of funds due to land acquisition issues, many works are stuck due to the paucity of funds. With no funding, several road development projects remain only on paper.
Government officials said that they had sent the department-wise list of projects that require the government’s attention and funding. “We hope that some of the pending projects will be provided funding in the budget,’’ a senior official said.
With the Lok Sabha elections next year, the state government is expected to announce fund allocations for the pending projects and new projects for Coimbatore in the budget.