The original design by the National Highways wing envisaged a four lane flyover spanning 1,415 metre from Amman Kovil to Saravanampatti. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways sanctioned the Saravanampatti flyover on 9 March 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 804.8 million (804.8 mn) under the Annual Plan 2021-2022. The junction had been identified as a black spot and activists said a grade separator was warranted to reduce accidents and improve traffic flow.
Activists said the project was delayed while approval from Chennai Metro Rail Limited was awaited because of a proposed metro corridor along the stretch. During that period the then State Highways Department had proposed an at grade junction improvement estimated at Rs 120 million (120 mn), but tenders were not floated as the road was to be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India. With the metro proposal no longer under consideration and the NHAI overseeing the road, the group urged revival of the flyover scheme.
The organisation recalled a stakeholders meeting convened by the Coimbatore collector in 2023, when objections were raised to the at grade proposal and the flyover was restored. Drawing a comparison with the Thudiyalur Mettupalayam Road junction on NH-67, activists said an earlier at grade improvement had failed to ease congestion. They urged the union government to cancel the NHAI at grade proposal and proceed with construction from Ammankulam together with comprehensive junction improvements at Kalapatti Road and Thudiyalur Road, arguing that a grade separator would provide a long term solution and ensure motorist safety.
