After years of delay, the Tamil Nadu Highways Department is set to revive its long-pending proposal to construct two additional down ramps at the Gandhipuram flyover in Coimbatore, a move expected to significantly ease congestion at one of the city’s busiest junctions.

The two-tier Gandhipuram flyover, built in 2017 at a cost of around Rs 1.48 billion, was designed to streamline traffic between Nanjappa Road and Ganapathy. However, soon after it opened, residents, motorists and civic activists flagged a major gap in the design: the absence of down ramps at Bharathiar Road and 100 Feet Road. This forced vehicles bound for Cross Cut Road, Bharathiar Road and adjoining areas to take longer detours, increasing pressure on surface roads.

In response to public demand, the state government formed a special committee in 2019 to assess the feasibility of adding the ramps. Based on its recommendations, the then AIADMK government issued a government order on September 30, 2020, sanctioning Rs 239.2 million for the construction of two additional ramps. A detailed project report was prepared and approved by the Technical Audit Committee, following which administrative sanction was granted.

Despite the financial approval, the project failed to move forward and remained stalled for several years. Officials later cited the proposed metro rail alignment and future construction plans as key reasons for keeping the ramp project on hold.

With the detailed project report for the Coimbatore Metro Rail rejected by the Union government, the highways department has now decided to proceed with the flyover ramp works. Officials said the plan is to construct two-lane ramps, one providing direct access to 100 Feet Road and the other to Bharathiar Road.

The proposal involves the acquisition of about 372.6 sq ft of land. While the requirement for additional land is being examined for the ramp leading to 100 Feet Road, officials clarified that no private land acquisition will be needed for the Bharathiar Road ramp.

According to the highways department, a revised cost estimate is being finalised to account for changes since the original sanction. Once the updated estimate receives approval, the long-delayed project is expected to move into the execution stage, offering much-needed relief to commuters in central Coimbatore.