Consumer organisation seeks flyover at Saravanampatti junction in Coimbatore instead of improvements to the existing road
A consumer organization in Coimbatore is lobbying for a flyover at the Saravanampatti junction, arguing that the current at-grade improvement plan is insufficient. They claim the original justification for canceling the flyover—the proposed Metro Rail project—is no longer valid as the project was rejected by the central government.
Why it matters
Infrastructure planning disputes often highlight the gap between local urban needs and bureaucratic decision-making processes.
The Saravanampatti junction in Coimbatore city requires a flyover to manage traffic challenges, rather than mere improvements to the existing road, said K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
In a letter to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, he said the Ministry sanctioned construction of a flyover with junction improvements at the Saravanampatti junction at ₹80.48 crore, as it was recognised as a black spot under the Annual Plan 2021-2022.
The project was intended to eliminate a major accident-prone location and improve traffic flow at the busy Kalapatti Road and Thudiyalur Road Junctions.
However, citing the proposed Coimbatore Metro Rail alignment, officials of the National Highways wing of the State Highways Department dropped the flyover proposal later and obtained sanction for an at-grade junction improvement to be taken up at about ₹12 crore.
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