The wait for improved traffic flow in Coimbatore might be nearing its end. The city's highway department is accelerating efforts to complete the first phase of the long-awaited western bypass project by August 2025.

This 32-kilometer project is divided into three phases. Phase one is seeing significant progress, with construction underway on an 11.8-kilometer, four-lane road stretching from Madukkarai to Madhampatti. The estimated cost for this initial phase is Rs 2 billion. While initial delays due to sand availability have been addressed, the department is pushing forward to complete the remaining work swiftly.

Progress is also being made on land acquisition for the subsequent phases. The second phase, covering nearly 10 kilometers from Madhampatti to Kanuvai, has already achieved 70% completion in land acquisition. To secure government funding, the department is aiming to finalise 90% of land acquisition within the next month. Land acquisition efforts have also begun for the final phase of the project.

However, K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Cause, expressed concerns about potential delays. He emphasised the importance of thorough government planning to avoid project delays exceeding a year. He's also observed a tendency for project scopes to change mid-stream, sometimes leading to cancellations or downsizing. For Coimbatore, a city accustomed to delays, Kathirmathiyon urged the government to set clear timelines for land acquisition, especially if there are no legal roadblocks.

(Source: News18)