‘Smart tree’ to provide shade, Wi-Fi, charging ports to Coimbatore residents

Though it sports the look of a normal tree, the artificial tree is made up of fibre and zinc. The metal inside is covered with fibre to give it the look of a real tree and the gold coloured leaves are made out of zinc. 

The tree provides charging points for mobile phones and laptops, besides seating arrangement for at least 30 persons. Moreover, Wi-Fi can be accessed by people within a radius of 350 metres from the tree.  

While inaugurating the facility, which was set up at a cost of Rs 30 lakh under the Smart City mission, Minister for Local Administration, SP Velumani, said that 25 more such ‘smart trees’ will be set up in different parts of the district. “Students and public will be benefitted from this tree. As the tree is developed under public-private partnership mode, the civic body hasn’t incurred any expenditure,” he added.

The smart tree is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 18.25 lakh to government and Rs 4.75 lakh to Coimbatore City Corporation per year by letting it out to a private firm. The Chennai-based JC Media Entertainment, which has erected the tree, will earn money by renting out space for advertisements and share a part of its revenue with the corporation.

Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner K Vijayakarthikeyan, MLAs PRG Arun Kumar, Amman Arjunan and Arukutty, and other officials were among those who were present at the inaugural function.