Karur-Coimbatore Greenfield Highway Faces Two-Year Delay Amid Funding and Approval Hurdles

The ambitious six-lane greenfield highway connecting Karur and Coimbatore is staring at a delay of at least two years, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) yet to grant final approval, according to The Hindu.

Originally expected to be cleared in the second half of 2024, the ₹3,500-crore project is stuck in limbo despite the near-completion of its Detailed Project Report (DPR). A senior NHAI official confirmed that DPR preparation is still ongoing, citing funding scale and traffic-related assessments as key reasons for the slowdown.

The proposed 90-km greenfield alignment is expected to run roughly five kilometres parallel to the existing Karur-Coimbatore highway and will include six lanes along with service roads. About 900 hectares of land have already been earmarked for acquisition.

The project was first conceptualized several years ago to ease increasing congestion on the existing corridor. Initial surveys and site visits have been completed, and a consultant was engaged for technical and alignment studies.

Meanwhile, widening works on the existing highway funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are underway and expected to finish in a few months. According to recent traffic surveys, the upgraded road, with added paved shoulders, may be sufficient to handle current vehicular volumes for now.

“Given the high investment involved, we’re carefully watching the traffic load. A greenfield highway will be essential in the long run, but current demand doesn’t justify immediate execution,” the NHAI official noted.

Despite the slippage, officials indicate that efforts are underway to get clearances at the earliest.

The Karur-Coimbatore highway corridor continues to be a major connectivity link for industrial and passenger traffic in western Tamil Nadu, and the greenfield road is likely to substantially reduce travel time and enhance freight movement once it is functional.