National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has discontinued the earlier proposal for the Coimbatore Eastern Bypass and the Coimbatore?Karur Greenfield Expressway, prompting strong reactions from industrialists, social activists and residents in Coimbatore. An official communication, issued in response to a grievance petition, stated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the earlier Karur?Coimbatore Greenfield Corridor has been foreclosed following directions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). It added that a fresh DPR is being prepared for a Tiruchy?Karur?Coimbatore Greenfield Corridor. The authority clarified that alignment, land acquisition requirements, project cost and technical details will be finalised only after completion of the DPR and approval by the competent authority. It noted that feasibility of a separate Eastern Bypass could be examined in future subject to traffic demand, technical feasibility, funding and government approval. Both projects were first proposed in 2016 and the DPRs were completed in 2018, with a combined estimated cost of about Rs 75.65 bn. The proposed 81?km Eastern Bypass, estimated at Rs 3,945.86 crore (about Rs 39.46 bn), was designed to connect Narasimhanaickenpalayam with Kaniyur and Madukkarai and to link six major National Highways including Avinashi Road (NH?544), Tiruchy Road (NH?81), Mettupalayam Road (NH?181), Sathyamangalam Road (NH?948), Pollachi Road (NH?83) and Palakkad Road (NH?544) and two state highways. The earlier package together with the Coimbatore?Karur Greenfield Expressway comprised a total estimated cost of about Rs 75.65 bn. Stakeholders said the bypass would have eased traffic congestion, improved freight movement and created opportunities for planned urban expansion such as industrial parks, IT campuses, residential townships and commercial developments. The director of the Kongu Global Forum urged revival of the projects and indicated that industrial associations will submit a representation to the Union minister for road transport and highways. Local groups appealed to MoRTH and NHAI to reconsider, arguing the projects are strategic investments that would attract fresh investment and support employment.