NHAI floats DPR tender for Trichy–Karur–Coimbatore greenfield highway and northern bypass

The National Highways Authority of India has initiated a fresh step towards improving road connectivity in Tamil Nadu by floating a tender to prepare a detailed project report for a proposed greenfield highway linking Trichy, Karur and Coimbatore. The proposed corridor, along with a dedicated northern bypass for Trichy, is expected to significantly enhance regional mobility and reduce congestion across key routes.

The combined length of the proposed projects is around 230 kilometres, making it a major infrastructure initiative in the state. The northern bypass is designed to serve the city’s expanding northern suburbs and will include a high level bridge across the Cauvery river. This component is expected to play a crucial role in easing traffic bottlenecks within Trichy city.

Officials have clarified that the proposed northern bypass is entirely separate from the ongoing Thuvakudi to Jeeyapuram semi ring road project, which primarily caters to the western and southern parts of the city. The new alignment is aimed at providing a more comprehensive solution to traffic decongestion and improving connectivity to multiple highways.

The bypass is expected to intersect with the Trichy to Chennai national highway and connect important routes leading to Namakkal and Chidambaram. The final alignment, lane configuration and technical specifications will be determined during the DPR stage, which is being overseen by NHAI headquarters in New Delhi.

The project also revisits earlier plans for a greenfield highway between Trichy and Karur. The existing stretch between these cities has long been criticised for its narrow width and frequent accidents, particularly along Jeeyapuram and Kulithalai. Stakeholders and road safety advocates have welcomed the move, expressing hope that this time the project will move beyond the planning stage.

Once implemented, the highway and bypass are expected to boost regional connectivity, support economic activity and improve road safety across this important corridor in Tamil Nadu.