Coimbatore: With poll campaign at its peak across Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK is boasting on a slew of developmental works carried/proposed during their regime. And, one such project thats been spoken at all AIADMK election rallies -- is the Coimbatore, Avinashi Road flyover project --the longest flyover in Tamil Nadu, stretching across 10.1 km.
(The images presented here are representative of Avinashi Road establishments and not necessarily of buildings to be demolished)
"We are not against the development of our beloved city. At the same time, hundreds of large to small businesses will be lost, if the Avinashi road flyover is built with ramps and service roads. Many of the businesses that are the face of Avinashi Road stand to close down in Coimbatore" - Voice of Stakeholders.
Coimbatore: With poll campaign at its peak across Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK is boasting on a slew of developmental works carried/proposed during their regime. And, one such project thats been spoken at all AIADMK election rallies -- is the Coimbatore, Avinashi Road flyover project --the longest flyover in Tamil Nadu, stretching across 10.1 km.
After Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah inaugurated the project on December 22, 2020 through video conferencing in Chennai, the Bhoomi Pooja to kick-start the Rs.1621.30 crore project was spear-headed by Minister for Municipal Administration, SP Velumani in the presence of local AIADMK legislators and top government officials.
While the Minister extolled the project as "Face of Coimbatore", the project if executed in its current plan might obilterate the face of many iconic buildings, large, small and minor business establishments, say members of Avinashi Road Landowners Association, the body formed to address the issue, culminating land owners along the arterial stretch.
Avinashi road --The hub for Education, Healthcare, Retail and Hospitality
None in Coimbatore nor the frequent travellers need an introduction about the City’s most important arterial road and the hub of commercial, educational, hospitality, healthcare, industrial activity and residential development - Avinashi road. Connecting Coimbatore with Erode, Salem and Tiruppur and importantly the Coimbatore International Airport, the proposed flyover project starts from Uppilipalayam and ends in Goldwins, a whopping 10.1 km stretch at a cost of Rs. 1,621.30 crore.
Proposed Benefits and Structural Plan
After the flyover is opened up for traffic, commuters can avoid 12 traffic signals and save easily 15 to 20 minutes.
As per the plan, subways would be constructed at five locations between Goldwins and Uppilipalayam and smaller bridges would be widened at three locations. Additionally, to ease traffic congestions, up and down ramps will be constructed at four locations -- Anna Statue, Nava India, Hopes College and Airport.
Longest bridge Vs Livelihood
"Even as the bridge is record setting of being the longest one in Tamil Nadu, it will also set a history of erasing the existing history of many prime buildings and livelihood of thousands of people along the 10.1 km stretch. Every structure along the stretch is a living proof for Coimbatore's entrepreneurship and acumen", say members of Avinashi Road Landowners Association.
Officials claim that a comprehensive study of the traffic pattern in the stretch has been evaluated before drawing up the final plan of the four-lane flyover, whose design can accomodate the vehicle growth for the next three decades. Contradicting the claim, the stakeholders allege of being completely kept in dark and lack of transparency in project execution and land acquisition.
No discussions or meetings were convened to discuss regarding the project plan nor land acquisition, they complain.
"As per the present flyover plans, heritage buildings with a history dating back to close to 100 years will lose their facade, as its estimated that 18,000 square metres will be acquired for constructing the ramps and widening. Its a nightmare for several hundreds of establishments, especially xerox shops, grocery stores , small bakeries and other petty shops, as they are about to lose their bread and butter", opine members of the association.
Stakeholders at Stake
Allegations points that land acquisition notice was published in two daily publications on December 11, 2020, just ten days prior to the Home Minister's inauguration of the project on December 22, 2020.
As per law, it is mandatory to serve personal notices or convene meeting with stakeholders on land acquisition, prior to project execution. However, the entire process was omitted, instead the construction works were expedited. Notices were given only to a small stretch of establishments between Nava India stop to Fun Mall.
The remaining stretch of land owners deny of being served any such acquisition notices. However, round-the-clock work for laying pillars are carried out on war-footing -- a blatant violation of law, they pointed.
The plight of a majority of the stakeholders is such that they had to learn of their own land about to be acquired through word of mouth or unconfirmed sources, which is extremely distressing and contempt of procedure, they noted.
Clueless land owners
"It's like the tall-standing pillars, staring at us every dawn and dusk. We are completely clueless on which part of our building would have to be compromised for land acquisition. Such is the ordeal of big establishments to petty shops on the proposed flyover stretch on Avinashi road", lamented a businessman from Hopes College.
Petition to Collector and DRO
On January 9, 2021, a petition on behalf of the association was submitted to the District Collector and District Revenue Officer, seeking explanation for this violation of procedure.
"Responding to our petition, the DRO called the representatives of the association for a meeting on January 12, 2021. Shockingly, a meeting of such paramount urgency and importance was headed by Highway Engineers, without any redressal. They indirectly said not to create a problem", said one of the association member.
He added that when questioned on why they were not served notices, the Highway Engineers have informed that the project plan was derived four years ago, itself. And when questioned, as to why no land acquisition related notices or meetings were convened all these years, the engineers have responded 'cold' by asking them to submit their grievances and pleas, as a petition.
Why the flyover design has to be altered without ramps..?
As the land acquisition comes to play mainly because of the ramps and service roads, the members of the association demand to alter the plan of the 10.1 km flyover, without ramps and service roads.
Pointing the existing flyovers under construction in Coimbatore without ramps, the association demands the same plan to be executed on the Avinashi road stretch.
As per the officials, land will be acquired at 563 locations for widening and building ramps. Depending upon the need, appropriate land will be acquired from them, and duly compensated. However, it is evident that the compensation will not be any close to the present market value but somewhere nearing 50% of the market value now, according to the members of the association.
The association has also alleged that the guideline value of Avinashi Road was reduced in September 2020 to further annihilate the value of their property.
If the current flyover plan is executed, a majority of the establishments like colleges, schools, hospitals, retail outlets, hotels will lose their facade -- anywhere between 10 to 20 feet. Demolishing pillars in the frontage could possibly lead to destabilising the strength of the buildings and result in further structural damage.
The ego of creating the longest bridge, will put hundreds of people's livelihood at stake.
"While the idea for a flyover in the stretch can still be achieved by building multiple bridges in the same stretch without the need for ramps and land acquisition like how it's done in other places in Coimbatore and other cities. Thats how projects like these within city limits, are executed", noted the members of the association.
As the flyover completion will take upto 4-5 years, businesses and livelihood of thousands of employees will be gravely affected. Hence, they propose that the State government should take into account the repercussions and re-consider the options to alter the structural plan of the flyover.
Traffic woes on the rise
As JCBs and giant drillers are ploughing the roads to lay pillars, traffic snarls has already begun in the stretch.
And, with other three arterial roads - Trichy road, Ukkadam and Kavundampalayam flyover works yet to be completed, the commencement of the Avinashi road flyover will only add to the existing traffic woes in the city. Importantly, the ongoing flyovers are a precursor on how businesses will dwindle during flyover works.
As there are notable number of retail and small business owners, educational and hospitals along the Avinashi road stretch, students and patients will face the menace of commuting amidst JCBs and construction works. Hence, an appropriate decision to stop the construction temporarily and recommence after completion of existing flyovers and changes in structural plan (without ramp system) would benefit hundreds of establishments and save the livelihood of thousands of people, they demand.
Interim stay on land acquisition
As all their efforts to find any amicable relief did not yield, members of the association resorted to the Madras High Court and have obtained a stay order to acquire their land for the flyover work. Those land owners who have obtained the stay order stated that the lands of those who had approached the court cannot be acquired, until further orders.
Though there is only flimsy chances for the flyover plan to be re-altered, as works are being expedited every day and pillars are laid, as planned, the concerns of hundreds of big establishments to small bakeries and xerox shops cannot go unheard, as well. And, the reason for this position is lack of stakeholder consultation, while planning project of such scale.
However, multiple up and down bridges crossing signals would probably serve both the government and retail establishment purposes. But if the current plan goes ahead, it might just signal the end of the livelihoods of hundreds of establishments and the face of Avinashi Road, as we know it today.