The Hindu : Front Page : Transforming Avinashi Road into world-class highway

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Transforming Avinashi Road into world-class highway

M. Soundariya Preetha

FOR SMOOTH FLOW: Study on upgrading Avinashi Road in Coimbatore suggests measures to ease the congestion. - Photo: S.Siva Saravanan.

COIMBATORE: The Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore zone, has released a feasibility report on upgrading the Avinashi Road into a world-class urban highway.

The report suggests developing the stretch, covering 16 km from L and T Bypass to Nanjappa flyover, into a six-lane one with median, service road and footpath-cum-drain on either side. It also recommends flyovers at five major junctions - Uppilipalayam, Lakshmi Mills, Vilankurichi, Sowripalayam and Hopes College. Road "furniture", junction improvements, bus shelters, pedestrian subway and landscaping have been mooted.

The Rs. 20-lakh study, prepared by the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company Limited, was completed in six months. And, work for a detailed project report will start in April-May, said Rohit Modi, its Chief Executive Officer. "The concept has been discussed with the State Government. It has been decided to set up a task force to take the project forward."

The objective was to study the feasibility (technical, economical, environmental and social) of improving and maintaining the road to world-class standards on a sustainable basis for a long-term, given the large number of commercial establishments, educational institutions and information technology companies on either side of the road. It has studied the pedestrian traffic, peak hour traffic, feature of the existing road and the scope to improve it.

The rough estimate for this is Rs. 110 crores and the report suggests forming a special purpose vehicle to implement it.

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