Road users are demanding immediate measures to widen the 27-km Neelambur bypass, which was developed on public – private partnership more than two decades ago as a toll road, into a six-lane road.
The road, which connects Avinashi road and Palakkad road in Coimbatore, sees high movement of heavy vehicles.
“In just one month, there were four fatal accidents on the road,” said K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
While the State Highways plans to submit a detailed project report on widening it into a six-lane road, the existing concessionaire has an agreement to collect toll till 2033. The initial agreement signed between the Government and the concessionaire also says that a new road cannot be developed within 20 km radius and this affects the scope for the eastern bypass too, he said.
Vehicles from Erode or Salem can enter Kerala without passing through Coimbatore city by taking the Neelambur bypass. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has widened the road from Chengapalli to Neelambur and again from Madukkarai to Walayar. The bypass is a major bottleneck and poses several risks to the road users, says Suresh, who drives through the bypass regularly.
“There are multiple issues that are delaying the widening of the bypass. However, it is the public who are affected. The governments – the Centre and the State – should take effective measures to ensure the road is widened without much delay,” said Mr. Kathirmathiyon.
There are reports that negotiations are on between the concessionaire and the government, and an outcome is expected in a couple of months.
Published – January 30, 2025 08:16 pm IST