Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association has requested the state government to widen the existing Sathy Road instead of creating a new bypass road from Kurumbapalayam to Sathyamangalam. The bypass will lead to acquisition of many farmlands, affecting their livelihood, the association said in a petition submitted to collector K Rajamani in the city on Monday.
The road widening work should be taken up by the national highways department rather than a private agency brought in by the central government, the association said.
Association president S Palanisamy said, "496-km Sathy Road, from Coimbatore to Sathyamangalam in Erode, connects a host of villages including Kurumbapalayam, Kovilpalayam and parts of Annur."
"Though the government approved widening of the road and even allocated Rs 1,200 crore for it, the project is yet to take off," he said.
Officials also say there is enough space to widen the road up to 120ft, he added.
Farmers say the government should focus on widening Sathy Road, which has been a long-pending demand of residents, farmers and industrialists on the road. It should be widened like Coimbatore-Pollachi Road and Mettupalayam Road.
"Instead, an agency employed by the central government is measuring parcels of land to create a 96km-long bypass from Kurumbapalayam to Sathyamangalam passing through Annur and Puliapatti. This will affect thousands of small farmers since that particular belt is majorly agricultural," Palanisamy said.
Farmers say Sathy Road, which connects Mettupalayam Road and Annur, is already a ring road. "Just widening the road will reduce congestion and allow vehicles to move faster," he said. "The state and central governments can come up with any scheme, as long as farmers are not affected," he added.