Balaji blames AIADMK for bad condition of roads in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Electricity minister V Senthil Balaji on Saturday blamed the previous AIADMK government for the bad condition of roads in the city.
Talking to the media after laying a foundation stone for the new road projects in the city, he attributed the bad condition of roads to the previous government’s lackadaisical attitude in laying and repairing them.
“Roads that were dug up for underground drainage work were not relaid properly. We started relaying them after forming the government. Chief minister M K Stalin has allocated 223 crore so far for relaying the roads in the city corporation limits alone. We have completed 70% of the work that have been taken up till date. The remaining work will be completed soon,” the minister said.
According to Balaji, road work worth 163 crore was proposed based on the petitions received during the Makkal Sabai meetings that were held at the 100 wards in the city in 2021. “The chief minister has allotted another 30 crore to carry out other works that were proposed at these meetings.”
Pointing out that the chief minister had sanctioned road work to an extent of 121km, he said, “This is the first time when so many roads have been sanctioned for Coimbatore in such a short span of time.”
Highlighting the budget announcements such as Tech City proposal for Coimbatore, Semmozhi Poonga and Ezhilmigu Kovai, Balaji said the chief minister was very particular about the development of the city. “A few more projects will be announced in the coming days.”
The minister inaugurated a newly constructed bus stop in front of Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital on Trichy Road, a children’s play area at Valankulam Lake and other completed projects on the day.
City mayor Kalpana Anandakumar and corporation commissioner M Prathap were present at the event.