The Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam Road that accounts for heavy vehicular traffic could heave a sigh of relief only if there were enough alterative roads.
Under such circumstances, the much awaited and announced Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam Bypass road from Kangeyampalayam to Mettuppalayam will be 54 km stretch as per the proposed alignment.
The President of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam M.R. Sivasamy pointed out that instead of laying a bypass road that would reduce the distance, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities have proposed a bypass road alignment for a distance of 54 km.
The increase in distance will only result in increased travel time and fuel consumption. Coimbatore Consumer Cause Secretary K. Kathirmathiyon says that the new alignment is in such a way that it would cut across the existing road at four places for six km, thus forcing the users of even existing Mettuppalayam Road to pay the toll for the new bridge that actually runs over the existing road.
If there are enough connecting roads from Sathyamangalam Road and that being connected by roads to Avanashi Road and Tiruchi Road, then the pressure on the existing Mettuppalayam Road will come down.
Mr.Kathirmathiyon wanted three connecting roads branching off from Mettuppalayam Road between Karamadai and Thudialur so as to reach Sathyamangalam Road and Avanashi Road.
Collector M. Karunakaran said that the Highways Department has been asked to step up the Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam repair works on a war footing and complete the works on the Mettuppalayam Road bus stand to Thudialur before October 10 and then concentrate fully on the Thudialur – Narashimanaickenpalayam stretch.
With regard to the bypass road, the concerns voiced by the farmers association and the advantages of the alignment suggested by them have been taken to the notice of the National Highways Authority of India for resolving the stalemate and to speed up the work.
