Coimbatore's draft masterplan, a comprehensive 600-page document released in February 2024, faces delays due to overwhelming public participation. Authorities received over 3,000 petitions, surpassing expectations. The plan addresses population growth, infrastructure needs, and industrial development while identifying city challenges and proposing solutions. Many petitions, particularly from rural areas, request reclassification of agricultural land, raising concerns about real estate interests. Authorities are meticulously verifying each petition, causing an additional four to five-month delay. The finalised masterplan will guide Coimbatore's development, providing a clear framework for future growth and investment.
Coimbatore, a city in Tamil Nadu, is currently in the process of finalising a new masterplan to guide its development for the coming decades. However, the process has been unexpectedly delayed due to an overwhelming amount of public participation.
The draft masterplan, released in February 2024, is a comprehensive document exceeding 600 pages across two volumes. It lays out a roadmap for Coimbatore's growth, considering various aspects such as projected population growth, water and electricity requirements, housing needs, road infrastructure improvements, and strategies to promote industrial growth. The plan also identifies existing challenges faced by the city and proposes solutions to address them. Additionally, it recommends specific areas where the state government needs to conduct further studies for informed decision-making.
Following the release of the draft plan, authorities invited public feedback by mid-May 2024. Anticipating a standard level of participation, they were surprised to receive over 3,000 petitions - a significantly higher number compared to public responses for similar plans in other cities. These petitions included both objections and suggestions for the proposed roadmap.
A notable trend in the public response is the high number of petitions received from residents in rural areas like Sulur and Annur taluks. These petitions request reclassification of a significant amount of agricultural land for purposes like residential development, commercial establishments, or industrial use. Authorities suspect that some of these requests might be coming from real estate developers seeking to convert farmland into profitable ventures. To ensure transparency and prevent misuse, officials are meticulously verifying the validity of each petition to identify genuine requests from landowners.
The overwhelming number of petitions has caused an unexpected delay in finalising the masterplan. Authorities are currently working through each petition, carefully scrutinising the concerns and suggestions. Valid suggestions will be incorporated into a revised plan before submitting it to the Directorate of Town and Country Planning for final approval. This process is estimated to take an additional four to five months.
The delay in finalising the masterplan creates a state of uncertainty for Coimbatore's development. Stakeholders, like real estate developers, emphasise the importance of a finalised plan as a roadmap for future investments and growth. The final masterplan, once approved, will provide clear direction and a framework for all stakeholders involved in shaping Coimbatore's future.
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