The much-awaited relief from traffic congestion for Trichy city faces further delays as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has confirmed that the detailed planning reports for three major National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects are still not ready. The revelation was made in Parliament on Thursday, dashing hopes for an early start to these critical infrastructure works.
Parliamentary Update Reveals Status of Key Projects
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, provided the update in response to a specific question raised by Trichy MP Durai Vaiko. The MP had sought the current status of the proposed Trichy-Karur-Coimbatore greenfield highway project and the long-pending access-controlled Trichy semi-ring road.
Minister Gadkari informed the house that the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) has been initiated for the following three key projects:
- The Karur-Coimbatore section of the National Highway.
- The Chennai-Trichy-Madurai National Highway, which includes a proposed elevated corridor before the Panjapur KKBT area.
- The Trichy Ring Road, specifically the pending stretch between Panjapur and Jeeyapuram.
He emphasized that the final decision to implement these projects will be taken only after the DPRs are completed, and based on a thorough assessment of the requirements and the prevailing traffic density in the region.
Public Discontent and Political Response
The news has been met with disappointment from Trichy residents, who have long endured severe traffic bottlenecks and have been eagerly anticipating these decongestion initiatives. The slow progress on these crucial projects has become a point of public discontent.
In a related development, the ministry also stated that the process of land acquisition for the Trichy-Thanjavur National Highway service road project has been initiated, offering a sliver of progress amidst the delays.
Reacting to the parliamentary response, MP Durai Vaiko stated his intention to seek greater clarity. "I will meet the road transport minister in person to get clarity about NHAI projects," he said, underscoring the need to push these vital infrastructure plans forward.
What This Means for Trichy's Future
The incomplete DPRs signify that these major Trichy decongestion projects are still in the preliminary planning stages. While the initiation of DPR preparation is a necessary step, the lack of completed reports translates to indefinite delays before actual construction can commence. The projects are critical for diverting through-traffic away from the city's core, improving connectivity to industrial and commercial hubs like Karur and Coimbatore, and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for Trichy's citizens.
The ball is now in the court of the authorities to expedite the DPR process. The outcome of these reports, as stated by Minister Gadkari, will be the key determinant for the future of Trichy's road infrastructure and its battle against chronic traffic congestion.
