After years of planning and delays, the long-awaited widening of Sathyamangalam Road in Coimbatore is finally set to commence in the coming weeks.In the first phase, the National Highways wing of the State Highways Department will widen a four-kilometre stretch from Kappi Kadai bus stop to Kurumbapalayam on Sathy Road. The work is estimated to cost Rs 400 million.A senior official from the highways department confirmed that the contract has already been awarded and a work order will be issued shortly. Construction is expected to begin within a month.The broader project involves widening the entire 96-kilometre Sathy Road, stretching from Kurumbapalayam to Kakanallah on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. Initially managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the project was transferred to the National Highways wing of the State Highways Department's Coimbatore division in 2022.In May 2023, the Union Government approved Rs 6.39 billion for acquiring approximately 650 acres needed for the expansion. However, the land acquisition process faced setbacks due to administrative delays, particularly the lack of a dedicated District Revenue Officer (DRO). Progress resumed around six months ago after a special team was formed.Despite this, the project has sparked significant opposition from farmers and industrialists, especially in the Annur area. The release of the land acquisition notification on 26 February 2025 created anxiety among landowners, who fear losing agricultural land, homes, and commercial properties.Environmental activists and local residents have urged authorities to explore alternative routes, such as widening the existing NH 948 or building bypasses through sparsely populated areas. They have also demanded clearer communication from officials regarding compensation, environmental studies, and rehabilitation plans.Amid ongoing concerns, the department has opted to commence work on the Kappi Kadai–Kurumbapalayam stretch, where land acquisition is not required.