City needs capital infusion for strengthening infrastructure

One of the earliest inhabited cities in the State, Tiruchi still has an age-old aura about it, perhaps a vestige of its rightfully proud history. Strategically placed and the fourth largest city in the State, it has grown to become a seat of higher learning, a reasonably industrialised economy and an emerging tier II city.

But, it is also a city that is still going through the pangs of growth.

For all its growth and expansion in recent years, Tiruchi is yet to come into its own as a city of top-notch infrastructure that is ready to embrace the opportunities. For far too long, the city has stood on the threshold of development, unable to make the leap forward for want of a planned approach.

In many ways, the city is yet to realise its true potential, be it in capitalising on its abundant and quality human resource, its excellent connectivity by road, rail and air, its possibilities to emerge as a hub of heritage tourism and its immense scope to leapfrog as a major industrial centre.

Tiruchi has not changed much down the years, but for the recent development of the highways all around, from a dull municipal town that is saddled with far too many civic and infrastructure inadequacies.

The old city comprising the erstwhile municipal areas around the Rockfort remains constricted with high population density and a congested central business district that shows no sign of spreading out to the other parts of the city.

The emerging suburbs woefully lag behind in civic amenities.

For over a decade now, a site could not be finalised for an integrated bus stand. The proposed shifting of the wholesale section of Gandhi Market, which caters to the central districts, out of the city too remains a non-starter. Ill-planned growth and insufficient investments on public infrastructure have stunted growth.

The shortcomings of the city have been topics of recurring discussions at various fora representing the industry, trade and service organisations.

On its part, Tiruchi Corporation that came into being in 1991 has come out with at least two city development plans in recent years. But the vision for growth outlined in them is to realise into action. A major portion of its geographical spread of 167.23 square km and population of 9.16 lakh, managed by a corporation, is yet to become self-sufficient in terms of civic infrastructure.

The cash-strapped civic body, over the past two decades, has struggled to fulfil the growing civic needs, leave alone pump in investments on major capital works. Clearly, the city is in some urgent need of capital infusion, both public and private.

Much hope was pinned on Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission that was launched a few years ago. But the city lost out on the project, as it did not have a population of 10 lakh to meet the Centre’s norm.

Hopes have been revived now with the corporation drawing up plans in anticipation of inclusion under the phase II of the project. Much of the city’s development could hinge on the corporation’s and the State government’s ability to get the project sanctioned.

Investments have been hard to come by in the private sector too. The industry to a large extent relies on the public-sector BHEL to feed it with orders. Except a few, the fabrication units have struggled to diversify.

The IT Park that has come up at Navalpattu, which has managed to attract a handful of units, has achieved a little but to turn the real estate market speculative.

The announcement on according international status to the city airport would become meaningful only if the State managed to acquire the required lands smoothly for the runway expansion.

The city has long been in the fringes of the tourism circuit and it is perhaps time to re-position the region so as make it a tourist destination of its own right. Many a famous heritage destination such as Gangaikondacholapuram and Sittanavasal remain underexposed.

The tourism and travel industry has been crying hoarse on the need for better infrastructure to promote the heritage destinations. Private and public partnerships are possible for setting up a theme park, a trade centre and a possible rope car between Rockfort and Srirangam, feels the industry.

The hospitality sector too is in need of an upgrade. Projections indicate that the city’s would require about 200 to 300 more hotel rooms over the next couple of years. Much would depend on the development of support services for the tourism sector to thrive.

The city’s public transport system has been crying for improvement.

The government’s announcement on taking up a survey for a mono rail for the city was welcomed widely. But it could still be years before an alternative system could be put in place.

For far too long, the city has been sorely missing a lobby to push its cause. Former chief minister M.G.Ramachandran once toyed with the idea of making the city the second capital of the State, a concept which still finds echoes from various service organisations of the city.

Several years later, late Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, who during short terms as Member of Parliament representing the city, came up with a long term vision. A go-getter that he was, the former union minister even brought down a clutch of secretaries from Chennai for a high-level meeting to discuss development plans for the city. But the initiative died a natural death after his demise with none to follow it up.

The last Assembly election, wherein Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was returned from Srirangam, has infused some hopes. She has already come up with a slew of projects for the island town, including a slew of civic and public infrastructure projects and a clutch of institutions such as the National Law School and National Institute of Information Technology.

The city stands to benefit from the spin off effects from these measures. But whether it could leverage the opportunities remains to be seen.