Works to widen the National Highways (NH 47) from Chengapalli to Neelambur into a six-lane road will take nearly four more months to be completed.
An official at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) here told The Hindu on Tuesday that the road work, which was taken up two-and-a-half years ago, was to be completed in March this year.
However, with the works pending, the contractor (IVRCL Infrastructure Projects) had received extension of time and the project was expected to be completed by the end of July.
The land acquisition was almost over. Works had slowed during the last few months.
If taken up on a war-footing, the six-lane road could be completed in four months, the official said.
The company IVRCL Infrastructure had taken up the widening of nearly 42 km from Chengapalli to Walayar to a six-lane, elevated road at a cost of about Rs. 800 crore under the build-operate-transfer scheme.
The project included development of a couple of bypass roads, construction of three bridges and several vehicle and cattle under passes.
The road would be widened to a six-lane stretch with two-lane service road on either side. A toll gate would come up near Neelambur.
Commercial operation of the road and toll collection would commence after completion of the works and the NHAI giving the completion certificate.
This was one of the main National Highways roads that connected Coimbatore to other parts of the State.
Traffic growth
The growth of traffic, especially heavy vehicles, was high on this stretch and hence it was decided to widen it into a six-lane road (it was a two-lane road earlier).
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, says that all the works on the road, including the bridge works, should be completed in the next four months.
NHAI should ensure that information boards and road signs were placed on the entire stretch as per the Government norms so that the road users were not confused and to avoid accidents.
