COIMBATORE: To decongest the tourist town of Ooty, a ten km-long bypass road is laid at a cost of Rs 81 crore from Lovedale junction by the state highways department.
Until now, vehicles coming from the Mettupalayam to Coonoor Road and those heading towards Kerala, Karnataka or Gudalur had to pass through Ooty town, resulting in severe traffic congestion.
The traffic woes are felt particularly during the peak seasons, when a large number of tourists flock the hill destination from across Tamil Nadu and as well as from neighbouring states. The situation also worsens during the rains, when uprooted trees and damaged roads disrupt traffic.
The new road project is being constructed from Lovedale Junction to Fingerpost through Lovedale railway station and Manjanakorai-Palada Road
Already, an alternative route was thrown open from Katteri to Ooty through Ketti, Palada, Gandhinagar and Lovedale junction, while bypassing Coonoor town. This new road project is being constructed from Lovedale Junction to Fingerpost through Lovedale railway station and Manjanakorai-Palada Road.
“The project, which is in its final stages of execution, encompasses 25 minor bridges and culverts constructed along the ten km stretch. Narrow stretches along the route have been expanded to not less than seven metres. The road is expected to be thrown open for public use in another two months to provide smoother connectivity for tourists before the summer season,” said an official of the state highways department.