Delay in GD Naidu Flyover Extension from Goldwins to Neelambur Frustrates Coimbatore Commuters

The 10.1-kilometre-long GD Naidu flyover, Tamil Nadu’s longest elevated stretch, has transformed traffic movement along Coimbatore’s bustling Avinashi Road. However, the much-anticipated five-kilometre extension from Goldwins to Neelambur has hit a roadblock, leaving thousands of commuters and businesses disappointed over the lack of visible progress.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced the extension project in November last year, following repeated appeals from motorists, industrialists, and residents. The proposal aims to extend the existing flyover—currently connecting Uppilipalayam and Goldwins—up to Neelambur, easing congestion and ensuring seamless connectivity to Coimbatore International Airport and the city’s expanding industrial corridor.

Despite the public announcement and growing demand, the project has not moved beyond the planning stage. According to senior officials from the State Highways Department’s Special Projects Wing, the delay primarily stems from pending clearances by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

A senior highways official explained that the CMRL has proposed a metro corridor along the Avinashi Road stretch between Neelambur and Anna Silai junction. “We are waiting for their clearance before proceeding with the flyover extension to ensure alignment with the future metro project,” the official stated.

The ₹1,791-crore GD Naidu flyover, inaugurated on October 9, was designed to decongest the city’s busiest arterial route. While it has significantly improved traffic flow between Uppilipalayam and Goldwins, the absence of progress on the Neelambur extension has become a major concern.

Local traders, industrialists, and daily commuters have voiced frustration over the prolonged delay, stressing that the extension is crucial for improving access to the airport, key residential zones, and industrial areas in Coimbatore’s outskirts.

Residents are urging the government to expedite approvals and start construction at the earliest. With Coimbatore’s rapid urban growth, infrastructure upgrades like the GD Naidu flyover extension are essential to sustain mobility, support commerce, and enhance the city’s connectivity to the state’s western industrial belt.