Coimbatore and Tiruppur get urban development bodies for directed growth

COIMBATORE: The Government of Tamil Nadu has newly formed urban development authorities for the cities of Coimbatore and Tiruppur. The announcement for the same was first made on August 8 this year. In the revised budget speech in August, the state government had mentioned its decision to create a separate body for the development work of these two rapidly growing districts. The departments were officially established this week.

The urban development bodies are set to have Principal Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, as acting Chairman and cities’ respective collectors as vice-chairman. The state government will also appoint two people from housing, trade, and industry sectors. A person from an academic institute of repute will be appointed to involve in planning, along with a full-time member secretary.

Three representatives of the Government of India, one from railways, two elected representatives of the particular civic corporation, three elected representatives of the local bodies in the area in addition to the corporation and four non officials nominated by the state government (an engineer and an economist) will be part of the authority. The state government will also nominate one person with knowledge of town planning and architecture in addition to two experts on commerce and industry. Moreover, the body will have a separate planning cell which will have a senior town planner and supporting staff.