Karur-Coimbatore Six-Lane Greenfield Highway Project In Tamil Nadu Likely To Face Two-Year Delay: Report

The proposed six-lane greenfield highway project between Karur and Coimbatore is likely to be delayed by at least two years, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) continues to go slow on final approvals, according to a report by The Hindu.

The NHAI had mooted the proposed of a new road between the two cities several years ago in response to increasing traffic bottlenecks.

Initial surveys were conducted to assess traffic volume and determine alignment options.

A consultant was appointed to prepare a detailed project report (DPR), which was nearly completed following site visits and technical evaluations.

The proposed alignment for the new highway runs approximately five kilometres parallel to the existing road and will include six lanes and service roads where necessary.

Land identification for the project has reportedly already been completed, with around 900 hectares required for acquisition. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 3,500 crore.

Originally, the project was expected to receive approval in the second half of 2024. However, the NHAI is yet to give clearance to the project.

Preparation of DPR is on, according a senior NHAI official, cited in the The Hindu report.

Widening of the existing highway between Karur and Coimbatore, funded by the Ministry of Road Transport, has been taken up and is expected to be completed within a few months.

According to a recent traffic survey, the expanded existing road with the addition of paved shoulders may suffice to handle current traffic levels.

As a result, officials are closely monitoring vehicular flow to determine when a greenfield solution will become indispensable.

The official acknowledged the greenfield highway is a high-investment project and that funding scale was contributing to the delay.

Efforts are on to get the approval for the project as early as possible, he assured.

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