The Coimbatore corporation, both in terms of size and impact, has the potential to surpass all other corporations operating inside the state including Greater Chennai Corporation.
The expanded administrative area will be 438.54 square kilometers, which is an increase from the current 257.04 square kilometers.
The corporation has requested the state government that there would be a merger of eleven village panchayats and four town panchayats.
The Coimbatore Corporation, which encompasses a total administrative territory of 424 square kilometers, is poised to benefit if the government approves the proposal.
Proposed Towns/Village Panchayats to be added with Coimbatore Corporation:
As part of the plan, the Coimbatore corporation will be expanded to include the following village panchayats:
Kurudampalayam, Somayampalayam, Perur Chettipalayam, Keeranatham, Neelambur, Mylampatti, Pattanam, Vellanaipatti, Kallipalayam, Chinniyampalayam, Seerapalayam, and Madukkarai municipality.
To the statements made by Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran of the Coimbatore Corporation, “This roster is a preliminary version of the final roster. Concerning the expansion, we have not yet been given any official directives to carry out the expansion. There is a high probability that several modifications will be made to the list before it is completed.”
The Mayor of the City, K. Ranganayaki, is quoted as saying that the list was produced before the elections for the Lok Sabha.
It would seem as though the list is almost finished right now. An extra fifty wards will be included in the one hundred existing wards after the plan is accepted. This will bring the ward count overall down to one hundred.
Mixed Reactions from Elected Representatives:
The proposal has elicited a variety of responses from elected representatives and residents of the areas that are being considered for inclusion. While some have opposed the move, others have welcomed it.
G Jagadeesh, a councillor from Ward 244 in Madukkarai municipality, said that the change hadn’t helped the people who live there much, even though Madukkarai town panchayat became a municipality on September 11, 2021. “Property taxes and building plan approval charges were increased three years ago and they are likely to increase again if the municipality is merged with the corporation.”
He said they would be against the plan if the government asked people to say what they thought about it.
“The number of ward councillors will drop from 27 to just 2 if Madukkarai municipality is added to the corporation.” Also, there will only be one corporation zonal office for the whole area, and it will be in Kuniyamuthur, which is six kilometers away.
He said, “The public won’t have good representation or easy access to services.”
The vice-president of the Irugar town panchayat, G. Jeyakumar, pointed out that there were earlier attempts to combine Irugur and the corporation in 2006 and 2010. We approved a resolution rejecting the proposal at that meeting. Back then, the merger never took place.
According to him, Irugur has grown substantially in the last fourteen years.
Given these changes, it will be preferable to combine with the corporation to get additional infrastructure.
An international cricket stadium is being planned in our region, the airport expansion is slated to begin shortly, and there is a proposal to create a central bus station along the L&T bypass route. So, we’re happy about the change.
Views expressed by Residents on Coimbatore Corporation Expansion plans:
Some of the residents of Kerranatham village panchayat have voiced their reservations against the relocation.
They feel the plans do not bode well in their opinion. It makes no difference whose party the village president or ward members lean toward; they are all very friendly.
They are concerned that their current leverage in resolving complaints may be diminished in the event of a merger with the corporation.
There will be a significant rise in taxes as a result of the merger, and they are skeptical about even getting the good services back.
South Development Federation coordinator’s views on Coimbatore Corporation Expansion Plans:
According to Deepam Swaminathan, coordinator of the South Development Federation, the 2011 merger between the corporation and the Kurichi municipality was beneficial for both parties.
“Before, the roads weren’t very good. Expansion of roadways followed the merger.
The smart city initiative encompassed Kurichi Lake.
Underground drainage work is progressing, street lighting has been enhanced, and drinking water from Siruvani is now available.
In his opinion, the growth will have a positive impact on the residents of the new locations that will be joined by the Coimbatore Corporation.