NHAI begins discussions with L&T to take over the 28km Neelambur bypass road in Coimbatore, five years before the contract ends. The government aims to widen the accident-prone stretch to reduce fatalities.
Coimbatore: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated talks with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to take over the 28km-long Neelambur bypass road in Coimbatore. This move comes five years before the existing maintenance contract is set to expire. The Tamil Nadu government's National Highways wing is eager to take control of the road and commence the widening project as soon as NHAI concludes negotiations by compensating the private company.
The narrow, two-lane stretch of the Salem-Kochi highway has gained notoriety for its high accident rate. In 2023 alone, 120 people lost their lives in various accidents along this stretch, making it one of the deadliest roads in the state.
A senior official from the National Highways wing of the state highways department revealed that discussions with L&T include the potential termination of the agreement, allowing the state government to assume control of the road. The official stated, "The government will pay an amount to the company to facilitate the takeover before the agreed period. The figure is yet to be decided. We have prepared a detailed project report for constructing a four-lane road with two service lanes on the available land, at a cost of Rs 500 crore."
Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati confirmed that officials from L&T and NHAI are currently engaged in talks regarding the handover of the road. He added, "Plans are on the anvil to carry out the widening project through the state government's National Highways wing."
The National Highway 544 currently has six lanes connecting Salem to Neelambur, four lanes from Walayar to Madukkarai, and six lanes for the remaining 340km stretch. However, the Neelambur bypass section has remained a 10-metre-wide two-lane road since L&T entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in 1999 for its maintenance over a 30-year period, funded by toll collection.
With the continuous growth in population and vehicle numbers, the road frequently experiences congestion, and accidents have become a daily occurrence. For over a decade, there has been a mounting call to widen the bypass road, with various stakeholders including the public, motorists, social activists, police personnel, local body officials, and politicians advocating for measures to prevent further accidents on this stretch.
The government has already acquired land, securing about 45 meters on either side of the road for the widening project. However, work could not commence as the road remains under L&T's control. Previously, L&T had proposed to widen the road themselves, but this suggestion was rejected due to concerns that the company might extend the toll collection period.
As negotiations progress, the focus remains on improving road safety and reducing congestion on this crucial stretch of highway in Coimbatore.
The narrow, two-lane stretch of the Salem-Kochi highway has gained notoriety for its high accident rate. In 2023 alone, 120 people lost their lives in various accidents along this stretch, making it one of the deadliest roads in the state.
A senior official from the National Highways wing of the state highways department revealed that discussions with L&T include the potential termination of the agreement, allowing the state government to assume control of the road. The official stated, "The government will pay an amount to the company to facilitate the takeover before the agreed period. The figure is yet to be decided. We have prepared a detailed project report for constructing a four-lane road with two service lanes on the available land, at a cost of Rs 500 crore."
Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati confirmed that officials from L&T and NHAI are currently engaged in talks regarding the handover of the road. He added, "Plans are on the anvil to carry out the widening project through the state government's National Highways wing."
The National Highway 544 currently has six lanes connecting Salem to Neelambur, four lanes from Walayar to Madukkarai, and six lanes for the remaining 340km stretch. However, the Neelambur bypass section has remained a 10-metre-wide two-lane road since L&T entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in 1999 for its maintenance over a 30-year period, funded by toll collection.
With the continuous growth in population and vehicle numbers, the road frequently experiences congestion, and accidents have become a daily occurrence. For over a decade, there has been a mounting call to widen the bypass road, with various stakeholders including the public, motorists, social activists, police personnel, local body officials, and politicians advocating for measures to prevent further accidents on this stretch.
The government has already acquired land, securing about 45 meters on either side of the road for the widening project. However, work could not commence as the road remains under L&T's control. Previously, L&T had proposed to widen the road themselves, but this suggestion was rejected due to concerns that the company might extend the toll collection period.
As negotiations progress, the focus remains on improving road safety and reducing congestion on this crucial stretch of highway in Coimbatore.