
Industrial associations in Coimbatore to push for three major road projects
Three road projects can change the face of Coimbatore district and bring huge investments and development. However, these projects remain on paper hampering the district's growth, say industrial associations in Coimbatore.
As many as 10 industrial associations here will take up with the Central and State governments the need to widen Neelambur bypass, development of eastern ring road, and completion of the western bypass at the earliest.
J. Sathish, director of Kongu Global Forum, said the 10 associations that have come together under the 'Coimbatore Nxt' banner will take up with the Central and State governments the need to expedite the three road projects.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken over the 27-km, two-lane Neelambur bypass. This stretch is connected to six-lane roads on either side (Neelambur and Madukkarai) and hence, face traffic snarls and accidents. The NHAI should widen this road into four or six lane as land is available with the NHAI for the widening works, he said.
In the case of the eastern bypass, the 81-km road project has not progressed for almost five years. It will connect 10 highway roads. The project is with the NHAI. Land required to develop this greenfield road should be identified and acquired. It will be a key stretch to bring investments to Coimbatore as there is no scope to widen the existing Avinashi and Trichy roads, he said.
The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) has submitted a demand to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in this regard. The State government is developing the Western bypass and only 70 % of the works are completed in phase one of the project. The land acquisition should be completed for phase two and it should be expedited for phase three.
These roads will bring about a change in land use patterns and thus lead to industrial development, he said.
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