Tiruppur MP K. Subbarayan has reiterated his request to the Central government to upgrade the 102.5-km stretch of the Salem-Chengapalli National Highway (NH 544) from the existing four-lane highway into a six-lane expressway, citing a sharp increase in vehicular density in recent years.
The MP recently met Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in New Delhi and submitted a petition urging the government to take up the project. The petition emphasised that the highway is a crucial route connecting Salem, Namakkal, Erode, and Coimbatore with Palakkad, Thrissur, and Kochi in Kerala. While the 54-km stretch of the highway between Chengapalli and Coimbatore has already been expanded to six lanes, the remaining 102.5-km stretch from Chengapalli to Salem remains a four-lane road.
According to the petition, approximately 30,000 vehicles use the highway daily, leading to frequent traffic congestion, increased fuel consumption, and higher carbon emissions. The MP stated that land acquisition for the six-lane expansion had been completed, and urged the Ministry to expedite the project.
Additionally, he highlighted the need for the construction of overbridges, flyovers, and service roads in his constituency. He stressed that these projects are essential not only for infrastructure enhancement but also to alleviate the hardships faced by both vehicular traffic and the general public.
The MP also noted that he had previously raised these issues in October 2024 and once again urged the Minister to address these urgent demands, prioritise the allocation of funds, and issue the necessary orders for implementation.
Published – March 31, 2025 04:59 pm IST
