Trade, industry sectors make a case for widening Erode-Karur road

Trade and industry sector representatives say the Erode-Karur stretch requires widening. Photo: M. Govarthan

Trade and industry sectors in Erode district wants the Erode-Karur stretch to be widened to promote tourism and industrial growth.

While Coimbatore Airport is well connected to domestic destinations across the country, traders and industrialists bound for Gulf and South-Eastern countries prefer Tiruchi Airport due to its proximity. Tiruchi International Airport is less than half the distance when compared to Bangalore or Chennai.

It now takes about two-and-a-half to three hours to cover the about 150 km distance between Erode and Tiruchi, thanks to the widened road between Karur and Tiruchi. By widening the Erode-Karur stretch, the travel time could be reduced by half an hour, according to Madeswaran, a taxi operator.

The Federation of All Trade and Industry Association (FATIA) has already submitted a memorandum to the State Government emphasising on widening the road to a four-way or a two-way with paved shoulders, to promote tourism, capitalising on the presence of the Arulmigu Magudeshwarar Temple that receives devotees from all over the country. Widening of the road will become inevitable in the event of the proposed mofussil bus stand taking shape near Lakhapuram, N. Sivanesan, FATIA president, said.

There are other reasons for widening the stretch. Bamboo and other raw materials are transported from various parts of Erode district to the Tamil Nadu Papers Limited at Velayuthampalayam in Karur district through a major part of the Erode-Karur road.

Several hundreds of rail travellers in and around Karur district find it convenient to travel to Erode Junction every day to board trains bound for destinations in Kerala and Northern States.

Also, Kodumudi being a hub for turmeric cultivation, there was enormous scope for promotion of food processing industry. Widening of the Erode-Karur stretch would improve the connectivity with Southern districts that already have a four-lane road link to Karur district.

A strong road infrastructure is a pre-requisite for introducing a packaged pilgrim tour covering the temple towns of Tiruchengode, Bhavani and Kodumudi, Mr. Sivanesan said.