Coimbatore’s Western Ring Road Phase 1 Faces Delays, Completion Expected By End Of Year: Report

The Western Ring Road project in Coimbatore, conceived to ease traffic bottlenecks and divert heavy vehicles from the city’s core, has been hit by multiple delays, pushing the deadline for its first phase from September to December this year, according to a New Indian Express report.

The report added that the main carriageway is expected to open by November.

The 32.43 km, four-lane corridor, also known as the Western Bypass will stretch from Mylkal on the Salem–Cochin Road (SHU 52) to Narasimhanaickenpalayam on the Nagapattinam–Gudalur–Mysore Road (NH 67).

Cutting across 15 revenue villages, the bypass is expected to ease pressure on Coimbatore’s arterial routes.

Phase 1, covering 11.8 km from Madukkarai to Madampatti via Sundakkamuthur, Perur Chettipalayam and Theethipalayam, is over 90 per cent complete.

Launched in August 2023 at a cost of Rs 250 crore, it was meant to be ready by September 2025 but has been slowed by shortages of suitable soil, rising costs of construction materials, farmers’ opposition to soil extraction from Chinnavedampatti lake, and a scarcity of civil workers.

“Delays in land acquisition, relocation of pipelines and EB cables, and the presence of a crematorium near Mylkal slowed the flyover work considerably. We also faced unexpected challenges in procuring soil for embankment construction. However, we are now moving at a faster pace and expect to finish soon,” a senior official from the State Highways department was quoted as saying.

According to officials, the remaining 2 km of road will be completed by October, with the main carriageway likely open to the public by November, even as flyover work at Mylkal continues until December.

Service roads will initially be laid as mud tracks and upgraded to asphalt later, subject to funds.

Subsequent phases, covering 12.1 km to Somayampalayam and 8.09 km to Narasimhanaickenpalayam, are awaiting funds and land clearances, though land acquisition is largely complete.

For now, officials maintain there are no immediate plans for toll booths, with the decision left to the government.

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