Goripalayam Flyover to Open by January 2026 as Land Hurdles Cleared

The long-awaited Goripalayam flyover project is now back on stream, with land acquisition problems being recently sorted out, according to the State Highways and Minor Ports Department. The 1.3-km-long flyover from Tamukkam to Nelpettai would now be ready for commissioning by January 2026.

The project, costing ₹190.40 crore, was sanctioned on April 30, 2023, and was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in October last year. The bridge, designed to be 12 meters wide, will ease the one-way traffic movement at one of the busiest junctions in Madurai.

Officials said the flyover is being executed in three segments: from the Tamukkam ground to the Thevar statue, a parallel stretch to the existing Albert Victor (AV) Bridge up to the Anna statue in Nelpettai, and from the Thevar statue to Sellur. The structure will stand on 61 piers and include 62 spans.

“There was a delay in acquiring land in the Tamukkam–Goripalayam section. With that now resolved, work is progressing without obstacles. The segment running parallel to the AV Bridge will be completed by November,” a senior Highways Department official said.

The Sellur arm is expected to be finished by December and will initially function as a one-way stretch to ease traffic flow. Apart from the flyover, the project contains service roads and also consists of a vehicular underpass at Bibikulam-Gandhi Museum Road junction, mainly to increase connectivity.

It is thought that the northern flyover at Goripalayam is very important in terms of urban infrastructure improvement for Madurai. So far, the Tamukkam, Goripalayam, and Nelpettai junctions have frustrated many daily commuters because they are bottlenecks in traffic during peak hours. Those flyovers would reduce travel time in central Madurai and facilitate better dispersal into the northern part of the city once they become operational.

Now that the land has all been acquired, officials are optimistic about completing the project by January 2026. “We are on track, and commuters can expect relief soon,” the official said.