With the Lok Sabha election process coming to an end, residents of Coimbatore have expressed a collective sense of relief and anticipation for the resumption of essential civic duties by the Corporation.
The Coimbatore Corporation is expected to restart grievances redress meetings and sanction new road projects that had been temporarily halted due to the elections. “Several road works are on hold for the last three months, awaiting sanction of tenders and allocation of funds,” said a ward councillor.
The Lok Sabha elections, a crucial democratic exercise in India, often result in the temporary suspension of several municipal activities as local governments and officials focus on the electoral process, as stipulated by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). In Coimbatore, this has meant a pause in the regular grievances redress meetings conducted by the Corporation, where residents voice their concerns and seek redressal for various civic issues. In a month, the civic body receives up to 10,000 petitions regarding civic issues.
Residents have voiced their concerns over the delays, particularly emphasising the importance of maintaining and developing road infrastructure. “The condition of several roads in our area is deplorable. Potholes and uneven surfaces have made daily commuting a challenge,” said Ramesh Kumar, a shopkeeper in Ram Nagar. “We hope that with the elections over, the Corporation will prioritise these much-needed roadworks.”
The Corporation’s grievances redress meetings have also been a vital platform for citizens to address issues ranging from waste management to water supply. “These meetings are crucial for us to communicate directly with the authorities. The hiatus has left many of our complaints unresolved,” said a resident of Tatabad.
Corporation officials said that the grievances redress meeting will resume soon, but not immediately after elections. “We are fully prepared to resume our regular activities and we have a comprehensive plan to address the roadwork backlog,” a senior official of the CCMC said.
