COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is looking for an alternative funding source for the Noyyal riverfront development project, which was earlier estimated at Rs 202.5 crore under the funding of KfW Development Bank.Under the revised project plan, the corporation plans to seek funds under the Urban Challenge Fund and the 16th Central Finance Commission.In January this year, the CCMC received an administrative sanction for the project spanning a 4.3km stretch between Nanjundapuram and Athupalam. The proposed feature under the riverfront development includes beautification work, five parks, an open-air gym and riverfront viewpoints.Out of the total project cost, nearly Rs 100 crore was proposed for the establishment of sewage treatment plants at three select locations to halt direct entry of sewage into the Noyyal river. However, due to the recent assembly election, the project was not initiated. The change in govt has led to major changes, especially in the funding factor.Corporation commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said, “Earlier also the components were covered as one project. But now it has been divided into two — Noyyal riverfront development and wastewater treatment — for which individual detailed project reports have been submitted. We plan to opt for the Urban Challenge Fund for the riverfront development work at an estimate of Rs 73 crore. For the STPs, we plan to go for the Special Infrastructure Component (SIC) grants by the 16th Finance Commission.”The proposed riverfront project is planned to be carried out in phases. The Noyyal river spans a total distance of approximately 18.5 km in the corporation limits, of which 4.3 km will be taken up for development in phase one. As many as 41 sewage inlet points have been identified across the total stretch of the river in the city limits.
