New Intergrated Bus stand to be reviewed.

The proposal to establish an integrated bus stand at Panchapur in the outskirts of the city, mooted during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, is likely to be reviewed, N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, indicated here on Saturday.

The Tiruchi Corporation had drawn up an ambitious proposal to acquire about 243 acres of land at Panchapur along the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway to set up the bus stand along with various other public utilities including a truck terminal. Identifying a suitable site for the bus stand has proved to be a contentious issue. During the previous All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule the bus stand was planned to be established at Devadhanam close to the Cauvery river banks on the Tiruchi-Chennai By-pass Road. A group of farmers had then opposed the move on the grounds that it was too close to the Cauvery River and could be a source of pollution. Under the DMK regime, a committee was constituted by the Corporation to identify a suitable site after the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board reportedly failed to clear the Devadhanam site. The committee narrowed down on the Panchapur site, which again proved to be a debatable decision.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting to review the functions of various government departments here, Mr.Sivapathi said the matter would be taken up with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. A suitable place would be identified taking into account public interest and opinion. The Minister also indicated that amenities would be improved at the Chathram Bus Stand , which attracts a big floating population every day.

The long-pending demand for upgradation of the K.A.P.Viswantham Government Medical College Hospital as a super-speciality hospital would also be taken up with the Chief Minister. When asked about the farmers' opposition to the laying of a by-pass road across the Kothamangalam, Kallikudi and Punganur irrigation tanks as part of the four-lane project on the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway, Mr.Sivapathi said the CM was aware of the issue. Farmers have taken the matter to the court and the AIADMK has also staged an agitation expressing solidarity with the farmers.

The Chief Minister has also ordered the desilting of irrigation channels and works were underway at an estimated cost of Rs.1.40 crore , he said. P.Kumar, MP, R.Manoharan, R.Chandrasekaran, T.P.Poonatchi and T.Indira Gandhi, MLAs, Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, T.T.Balsamy, Corporation Commissioner, and district heads of departments took part.