In a relief for Madurai-Theni commuters, NHAI has accelerated the final phase of the Rs 239-crore bypass linking Kochadai and Thuvariman
The four-lane greenfield road covers 3.5km on NH-85. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone through video conference in March 2024. The scheme followed about 15 years of representations from Madurai residents and tourists.
A senior highway official said the remaining work had been expedited and the road was likely to open this year. “About 94% of the work is complete,” an official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said. The project received approval at Rs239 crore and it was revised to Rs260 crore, according to official data. “Crossing this section can add 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours,” said A Manikandan, a taxi operator, who regularly travels between Madurai and Theni. H Pradeep, a resident of HMS Colony said through traffic now mixes with local vehicles, pedestrians and school traffic. “Moving buses and trucks outside the settlement should reduce conflicts at junctions and make daily crossings easier,” the resident said.
“We are working to finish the balance work soon.