Even as there is increasing demand to widen National Highways (NH) 209 from Dindigul to Tamil Nadu – Karnataka border, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is expecting the consultant to finalise and submit the feasibility report for the project in a couple of months.
“The NHAI is pursuing the matter and waiting for the final feasibility report,” said an official of NHAI here. The finalised report has to be ratified by the State Government so that financial viability for the project can be studied.
The initial proposal is to widen the 200-km stretch into a four-lane road. The project has two sections: from Dindigul to Coimbatore and from Coimbatore to Karnataka border and will not pass through Coimbatore city. The proposal will include four major bridges, 30 minor bridges, vehicular and passenger underpasses, and road over bridges and as many as six bypass roads between Dindigul and Coimbatore. It involves acquisition of almost 450 hectares and the total project cost is estimated to be about Rs. 3,000 crore (excluding the land cost).
The proposal is to have service lanes in some areas where there were major towns or cities. Flow of traffic is high on the existing two-lane stretch between Dindigul and Palani and also from Coimbatore to Udumalpet and widening of the road will ensure smooth flow of traffic.
A meeting regarding the project was held in Chennai last month.
