Coimbatore: Link roads to ease traffic congestion

COIMBATORE: The city corporation has prepared a detailed project report to construct link roads at five places at a cost of Rs 144.80 crore using the infrastructure and amenities fund.
The estimate has been prepared for five separate packages. “The works include acquisition and purchase of small land parcels. For instance, the link road near the Fun Mall from Avinashi Road can be connected to Masakalipalayam Road and from there to Kamaraj Road if a small piece of private land is purchased. The road will pass through the 5th Street on PPC Colony to connect Masakalipalayam. It can ease traffic congestion on Avinashi Road, particularly when the flyover work reaches advanced stages. It is estimated that Rs 18.59 crore is required to provide the link,” a corporation official said.
Similarly, a link road can be formed to connect Anna Nagar Road from Avinashi Road in ward number 56 if a small portion of land at Varadaraja Mill is acquired. The project is proposed at a cost of Rs 55.54 crore. A link road has been proposed at Rs 45.62 crore to connect Puliakulam Main Road and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Road in wards 65 and 66. A road project at a cost of Rs 19.87 crore proposes to link Aishwariya Nagar in ward 15 and Maruthamalai Road. Another road linking Nava India-Avarampalayam Road-SNR College Road has been proposed at a cost of Rs 5.18 crore.
More than 100 scheme roads were marked in the detailed development plan to developed by the local planning authority decades ago, said R Raveendran of the Residents of Awareness Association of Coimbatore (Raac). “But they never materialised and as a result, many areas in the city have lost crucial links. A commuter should be able to travel in the city without touching the Avinashi Road, Trichy Road and Sathy Road to bring down traffic congestion in the key roads. It requires smaller rings roads within the city, which can be provided by developing link roads. The projects proposed by the corporation is a first step towards it,” he said.
The DPR and estimate will be sent to the principal secretary of housing and urban development through commissioner of municipal administration. Works will be carried out after approval is obtained.