Description
Smart roads are an essential part of the smart city mission proposed by Tiruppur Smart City Ltd (TSCL). The project aims at improving the city’s street infrastructure by means of laying smart roads that ensure improved traffic and pedestrian safety.
Tiruppur is an important city that accounts for 90% of the country’s cotton knitwear exports. The city is home to a huge population, and eventually the roads are always busy, buzzing with traffic. However, until the smart road project was implemented and the road infrastructure started witnessing a major change, there weren’t many roads with a broad vision.
Most roads were narrow yet overcrowded. The roads were filled with a lot of bumps and potholes in both residential and commercial areas. Besides, the bad stretches of roads were left unattended, causing a lot of trouble for all road users, including motorists, pedestrians, public transport users, and cyclists. People belonging to all socio-economic strata were equally affected.
The Tiruppur City Corporation realized the need for well-laid smart roads that made driving more efficient, smoother, safer, and greener as well as in line with government objectives. Eventually, they came up with a comprehensive, all-inclusive Smart Road project proposal that met the transport and road requirements of everyone—people of all age groups and those with disabilities.
The Smart Road project started in 2020, and the standard best practices were followed to construct well designed and equipped smart roads, streets, and cross roads in many places in the city. Both BT (bitumen) and CC (cement concrete) roads are being laid, based on the requirement of the specific locality. 11.264 km of smart roads are planned to be laid under the Smart Road Phase 1 project.
Quality roads, adequate street parking, information shoulder mounted road signage, and road markings are significant features of smart roads. Landscaping is done wherever there is available space. Solar powered charging points, LED display panels, tactile flooring, smart sit out street furniture, separate cycle tracks, information kiosks, smart poles, litter bins, smart interactive panels, vertical gardens, utility ducts for the future (below the ground), landscaping lights, and sculptures are also installed along the many newly-laid roads under the smart city project.
As of now, the Smart Roads Phase 1 project is almost over, with only work on pavement and lighting in a few pockets left to be carried out. The total project investment is Rs. 88.24 crore.
Testimonial
The new roadwork that has been completed in my area is highly useful for me. The road is broad, and the lighting installed makes it safe for me to walk home from the bus stop. I really appreciate the smart road project.
Smart roads and crossroads with several facilities and amenities in many parts of Tiruppur have certainly uplifted the face of the city. As a native of the city, I’m proud of the smart changes happening in the city under the smart city mission.
The streets surrounding our house have been well laid, and there is a separate track for cyclists and pedestrians. The roads are smooth and safe without any bumps or potholes. It’s a great opportunity for homemakers like me to go walking in the morning or evening without the fear of tripping down. Moreover, children can safely use the cycling track to practice cycling.
I usually return home on my motorcycle at night time. Earlier, it used to be a nightmare to pass by several roads that were too bad. But now that the smart roads are in place, it’s a breeze to reach home at any hour.
The Smart Roads project has, undoubtedly, improved the aesthetics of the city by laying quality roads that have enhanced the traffic and facilitated a quick and safe journey for people from all walks of life. In addition, the installation of informative road signage and road markings is of great assistance to the traffic personnel.
