“Trees will not be cut for carrying out development work. They will be part of it,” said Corporation Commissioner and Special Officer Dr. K. Vijayakarthikeyan.

Addressing the audience at the Kovai Vizha at Chamber of Commerce hall on Friday on ‘Urban Vision of Coimbatore’, Vijayakarthikeyan said the Corporation had to change a design to protect 112 trees. “A design for RS Puram Road was changed to protect 112 trees. Green cover will be part of infrastructural development work,” he added.

The Commissioner said the city was in need of more open recreational spaces. “This is main reason behind the lake redevelopment projects that are being planned as part of Coimbatore Smart City projects.”

Later interacting with the students of Sasi Creative School of Architecture, who displayed their designs on the topic ‘Redevelopment Model of Race Course – Coimbatore as a Responsive Urban Core’, he urged them to come forward with novel ideas on various fronts.

According to Rajdeepan Swaminathan, Managing Trustee, SCSA, more that 200 students, 30 architects designed the project with the help of general public.