The NHAI had earlier widened the highway beyond Thindukarai and proposed a bypass between Panjapur on the Tiruchi?Madurai route and Thindukarai as part of a semi?ring road, which is now under DPR preparation. A greenfield proposal between Tiruchi and Karur was mooted years ago but was deferred because of concerns over extensive land acquisition on the fertile Cauvery belt. Authorities also declined calls to develop an alternate road between Allithurai and the Mayanur tollgate.
The current tender process combines the earlier schemes by including the Tiruchi–Karur and Karur–Coimbatore greenfield links alongside the northern bypass for Tiruchi, with the bypass expected to connect major radial routes around the city. It was originally planned to run from Thuvakudi on the Tiruchi?Thanjavur route and to link the Tiruchi?Chidambaram, Tiruchi?Chennai and Tiruchi?Karur national highways. Officials say the DPR for a revised bypass alignment is in its final stages.
A consultant has been appointed to prepare the DPR for the Karur–Coimbatore greenfield highway and road users have urged expeditious completion of the reports so projects can move to execution. The president of the Road Users Welfare Association has called for prompt finalisation of the DPR for the semi?ring road linking Panjapur and Thindukarai. Authorities present the combined programme as aimed at improving road safety and regional connectivity while addressing land acquisition and alignment challenges.