Policy Shift Urged for Saravanampatti Junction to Restore Dropped Flyover Plans
Coimbatore Consumer Cause is challenging a scaled-back road project at a critical accident black spot. The organization argues that rejected Metro Rail plans should no longer block the construction of a necessary flyover.
Bureaucratic Reversal Challenged at Key Traffic Node
Urban planners and local advocates are clashing over the future of Saravanampatti junction in Coimbatore. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, has formalised a demand to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to reinstate a previously approved flyover project. The dispute centers on whether a 12-crore INR at-grade improvement plan can adequately replace the original 80.48-crore INR flyover proposal sanctioned under the 2021-2022 Annual Plan.
Safety Concerns and Institutional Friction
The Saravanampatti junction, sitting at the intersection of Kalapatti and Thudiyalur Roads, holds a formal designation as a traffic black spot. While the Ministry originally intended to eliminate this accident-prone zone through a substantial elevation project, officials later downgraded the scope. This decision, according to Kathirmathiyon, bypassed essential local oversight.
- Lack of Transparency: The at-grade plan proceeded without the input of the District Road Safety Committee, the DISHA Committee, or elected public representatives.
- Failed Precedents: Advocates point to NH-67 at Thudiyalur Junction, where similar ground-level improvements failed to resolve congestion issues.
- Technical Justification: The original flyover plan carried the full endorsement of the District Road Safety Committee and met all ministry-level technical requirements.
The Metro Rail Obstacle Removed
The shift from an elevated flyover to a surface-level upgrade was initially justified by the proposed Coimbatore Metro Rail alignment. However, that rationale has collapsed under federal scrutiny. The Government of India rejected the Metro proposal in November 2025, and a subsequent revised submission by the State Government faced a second rejection in July 2026. With the Metro project stalled, the Consumer Cause argues there is no longer a technical barrier preventing the superior flyover solution. The organization is now calling on the Ministry to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to de-scope the current surface level project and prioritize the original high-capacity design.
Source: The Hindu — News
