Consumer Forum Slams ₹1,791-Cr Avinashi Road Flyover for Skipping Pedestrian Crossings

The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has issued a legal notice to the Tamil Nadu Highways Department, flagging critical lapses in the ongoing Avinashi Road flyover project. The forum alleged that pedestrian safety has been compromised in the revised project plan, which excludes five sanctioned subways without any valid explanation.

At first, the project costing ₹1,621.30 crore consisted of five pedestrian subways. But with the revised estimates of ₹1,791.22 crore approved on July 12, 2024, the facilities for pedestrians, after much contemplation, were quietly taken off.The consumer body noted that the only pedestrian-friendly provision now included is a foot overbridge near PSG College, which was added at the request of a private institution.

“This selective inclusion disregards broader public needs and violates Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines,” the forum stated in the notice, calling out the lack of transparency and planning in the execution of a major public infrastructure project.

In response to public concern, the Coimbatore district collector had convened a Special Road Safety Committee meeting on March 1, 2024, directing the highways department to ensure pedestrian crossings are integrated into the project. Despite this directive, the revised plan makes no mention of the subways or foot overbridges, the forum said.

Consumer groups also insisted that, as part of the original plan, there should be the restoration of the five pedestrian subways, or their equivalent foot overbridges, and that all of these also should have lift access.

The forum declared that, under a warning of legal consequences, it will commence legal action and hold the officials accountable if these matters remain unresolved before the official inauguration of this project.

The Avinashi Road flyover is a major infrastructural project proposed for Coimbatore to alleviate congestion on one of the busier roads in the city. But now many citizens’ groups are questioning whether this advancement does not threatens basic pedestrian safety.

Consumer groups are calling for the reinstatement of the five pedestrian subways original to the design, or equivalent foot overbridges, into the proposed plan. All pedestrian facilities should have lift access for easy accessibility, especially for the elderly or disabled people.