Call To Fast-Track 81-km Coimbatore Eastern Bypass Project

14 May 2025 CW Team

The proposed 81-km Coimbatore Eastern Bypass—stretching from Narasimhanaickenpalayam to Kaniyur and onwards to Madukkarai—aims to connect all six major National Highways in Coimbatore: Mettupalayam Road (NH 181), Sathyamangalam Road (NH 948), Avinashi Road (NH 544), Trichy Road (NH 81), Pollachi Road (NH 83), and Palakkad Road (NH 544). Similar to the Western Bypass, the project is expected to offer an alternative route for vehicles heading to and from Kerala, significantly easing urban congestion.

Initially announced in 2016 during the AIADMK government, the project was to be executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) alongside the Coimbatore-Karur Expressway. A feasibility study conducted in 2018 estimated the project cost at approximately Rs 7.5 billion. However, the project has since seen little progress.

Highlighting the urgency of the bypass, CODISSIA President Karthikeyan recently appealed to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for immediate intervention. In his letter, Karthikeyan noted that the Eastern Bypass was a critical infrastructure initiative long pending with the NHAI.

"Coimbatore, as Tamil Nadu’s second largest city, is traversed by six National Highways, leading to significant traffic congestion,” he wrote. “The Chengapalli to Salem stretch on NH 544 experiences heavy vehicular movement daily, particularly from trucks and buses heading to Kerala. We urge the government to upgrade this 95-km segment into a six-lane expressway without requiring additional land acquisition.”

He further expressed concern that while the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has rapidly advanced infrastructure works across India, development in Western Tamil Nadu—despite its high urbanisation and industrial presence—has lagged behind.

The industry body has requested the Centre’s immediate attention to expedite key expressway and highway developments essential for the region’s economic growth and mobility.

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