Coimbatore Begins Land Survey for Two Metro Corridors.

Coimbatore has initiated a land plan survey for two metro corridors, with the city corporation receiving ₹2 crore from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for the project.

The survey, covering a total of 35 km—20.4 km along Avinashi Road (Corridor I) and 14.4 km along Sathyamangalam Road (Corridor II)—commenced on Wednesday. It involves mapping roads, identifying underground utilities such as power lines, telecommunication cables, water pipelines, and drainage chambers, and proposing relocation plans for obstructions to metro construction.

Two private surveying agencies, one from Delhi and another from Chennai, have been enlisted on a trial basis to conduct the survey. Their reports will determine which agency will undertake the full project. Advanced technologies, including DGPS, mobile LiDAR scanning, and ground-penetrating radar, will be used for mapping.

Coimbatore Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar acknowledged that land acquisition along Avinashi Road, home to industries, educational institutions, and hospitals, will be more complex than on Sathyamangalam Road, where highway expansion is also underway. The civic body has sought CMRL’s guidance on overcoming acquisition hurdles, traffic management, and infrastructure challenges.

Consumer rights activist K Kathirmathiyon emphasized that while Chennai Metro overcame similar challenges, fair land compensation remains a concern. Disparities between government valuation and market rates could lead to disputes among landowners. However, initial talks with major institutions along Avinashi Road have helped mitigate potential conflicts.

ET