The Neelambur bypass road, currently maintained by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited, is set to be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) by June 1. This was announced by district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, who stated that the NHAI is expected to send a letter of communication to L&T in the next two weeks. The takeover is seen as a major milestone, as it may lead to changes in the road’s infrastructure. According to sources, the number of toll gates along the stretch may be reduced, and the two-lane road may be upgraded to a four-lane or six-lane road with service lanes.
The 28-kilometer Neelambur bypass road is a critical stretch of National Highway 544, which connects Salem to Neelambur and Walayar to Madukkarai. However, the current 10-meter wide, two-lane road has been a source of concern, with a high incidence of fatal accidents in the past decade. In response to public pressure, NHAI and L&T have been negotiating, leading to the current development.
The agreement between L&T and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was signed in 1999, under which L&T was to maintain the road for 30 years, collecting toll charges along the way. The takeover by NHAI is seen as a major step forward in improving the safety and capacity of the road, which is expected to benefit thousands of commuters who use the road daily.