and Industry, Coimbatore
Press Release
January 17, 2009: Widening of NH 67 Trichy Road
We would like to congratulate the Hon’ble Minister for taking up the expansion and upgradation of Highways through out the Country and also upgrading the Ports to international standards. We would like to place on record our appreciation for the energy and dynamism shown by your goodselves to improve the infrastructure in our Country.
We would like to bring few lines about the neglected stretches of 20 Kms length of NH 67 Trichy Road between Coimbatore and Karanampettai which is affecting the Industrial growth and hampering the Trade and Commerce in Coimbatore Region.
The widening and upgradation work at NH 67 Trichy Road has not taken place on the busy stretch from Karanampettai to Coimbatore. You will agree when you come from Trichy towards Coimbatore after Karanampettai, traffic is considerable, as many roads from thickly populated villages of southern side of Trichy road join Trichy road and there is abnormal increase in traffic from Karanampettai to Coimbatore particularly from Sulur.
Any improvement in any Highway must be first attempted in areas where traffic is more. Unfortunately between Palladam and Karanampettai where traffic is less the road has been widened and upgraded and the stretch between Karanampettai to Coimbatore where traffic is heavy and road is narrow has been neglected.
Sulur is a fast growing town and has now become Taluk Head Quarters. Apart from the traffic emanating from Sulur, substantial volumes of traffic inflows into Trichy Road heading towards Coimbatore from a number of developing villages on the Southern side of Trichy Road and Sulur. This causes traffic congestion every now and then. Even now at Sulur, Trichy Road has not been widened and no attempt is being made to widen the narrow stretch of NH 67 from Eastern end to Western end of Sulur town. This portion of road looks like a busy bazaar. The reason given for the same is that there is a plan for a new Road (Bye-pass Road) from Eastern side of Sulur connecting Neelambur (Avinashi Road) to help the traffic going to Ooty, and hence there is no necessity to widen the road between Karanampettai and Coimbatore.
It is a known fact that the planned Bye-pass Road from Karanampettai to Avinashi Road (Neelambur) will not solve the problem which Trichy Road is facing today. The Northern side Bye-pass after implementation will not ease the traffic problem of Trichy Road. The destination of the major west flowing traffic plying through Sulur and Trichy Road is either to Kerala or to Coimbatore city and not to Ooty. Vehicles wanting to go to Avinashi Road (Neelambur) can go through L&T Bye-pass or Karanampettai - Somanur route. But volume of this traffic is negligible, compared to the vehicles going to Kerala and Coimbatore city. So, any upgradation and development must be aimed to serve large volume of traffic and population. Hence our Chamber appeals to the Government to take up widening and upgradation of the stretch between Karanampettai and Ramanathapuram (Coimbatore city).
Planning for Bye-pass, if it is to be useful to serve the public, must be on the Southern side of Trichy Road and Sulur. The traffic in Sulur and western side of Sulur increases due to vehicles coming from the East as well as large volume of traffic coming through many roads which are connecting to NH 67 from Southern side.
The area comprises of Southern and Western part of Palladam Taluk which are very thickly populated and fast developing. This traffic from South can reach the Southern side Bye-pass, can avoid Sulur town and can proceed to west to Coimbatore or Kerala or L&T Bye-pass to Neelambur. Traffic which emanates from northern side of Trichy Road will normally choose Avinashi Road route to Coimbatore and not Trichy Road, as many villages are nearer to Avinashi Road than Trichy Road.
Hence, our Chamber request is to implement:-
1. Four Lane Road from Karanampettai to Coimbatore with Central Median from Karanampettai to Coimbatore via Sulur.
2. Any proposed Bye-pass Road must be on the Southern side of Sulur. This must take diversion at Karanampettai and join Trichy Road either at Ravathur Pirivu, Pappampatti Pirivu, Chinthamanipudur or L&T Bye Pass.
We request the Hon’ble Minister to study our suggestions and do the needful.
Mahendra Ramdas
President