With Minister V. Sampath Kumar and Highways Department officials saying efforts are on to complete the flyover works on Mettupalayam Road (Saibaba temple junction) in a month, commuters point out the pending work and the challenges they face while crossing the junction daily.

The Highways Department officials had given 24 months completion schedule for a flyover that is less than one km long. And, they have not been able to complete the works on time, said K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause.

Since last December, the officials are saying the project will be completed in a month. Several shops in this area have shut down because customers cannot reach them; it is extremely difficult for ambulances to pass through the stretch; it takes 15-20 minutes to cross just about 700 metres, and there are traffic snarls even at 9.30 p.m. or 10 p.m., said Nataraj, who drives through the road every day.

Every small work for the project, from shifting of utility lines has taken a long time. Despite multiple flyover projects that were taken up in the city, there is no planning and the convenience of the daily commuters was never taken into account, added santhosh, who also travels through the stretch every day.

There should be special focus on the project and works should be expedited, say the commuters.