The proposed bypass between Panjapur on the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway and Thindukarai on the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway remains in limbo as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has yet to make a definitive decision on the project. This uncertainty has led to speculation and concern among local stakeholders regarding the future of the infrastructure initiative.
The NHAI is currently evaluating the feasibility of upgrading the proposed bypass to a four-lane road, despite the completion of a detailed project report (DPR) for a two-lane road with paved shoulders. The proposed three-kilometre elevated corridor at Panjapur, for which tenders had already been called, appears to be on hold.The delay is partly due to the ongoing development of significant state government projects in Panjapur, including an integrated bus terminus (IBT), a truck terminal, and an integrated vegetable market. The NHAI is reportedly waiting for these projects to advance further before finalising the plans for the bypass and the elevated corridor.The bypass project has faced numerous challenges over the years. Initially undertaken 15 years ago as part of the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway widening, work was halted in 2010 after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court intervened. The court, responding to a petition from farmers’ organisations, ruled against the NHAI’s plan to build the road across the Kothamangalam, Kallikudi, and Punganur irrigation tanks in Tiruchi district, mandating that the road should not affect irrigation sources.
Following this, a new alignment was finalised, positioning the bypass as part of a semi-ring road from Thuvakudi to Thindukarai via Mathur and Panjapur, connecting the Tiruchi-Thanjavur, Tiruchi-Karaikudi, Tiruchi-Madurai, Tiruchi-Dindigul, and Tiruchi-Karur national highways. Although the section between Thuvakudi and Panjapur has been completed, there is no indication of work resuming on the segment between Panjapur and Thindukarai.NHAI officials have maintained that the DPR for a two-lane road with paved shoulders is complete and that the land acquisition process is nearly finished. However, the decision to potentially expand the project to a four-lane road adds a layer of complexity and further delays.Local residents and stakeholders are keenly awaiting a resolution, recognising the bypass’s potential to significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity. The completion of the Panjapur-Thindukarai section is seen as crucial to the broader infrastructure network in the region.As the NHAI continues its deliberations, the future of the bypass remains uncertain. Stakeholders hope for a swift decision that balances the need for robust infrastructure with the protection of local resources and interests.
