Increasing traffic congestion on a 850-metre stretch of Mettur Road between the GH Roundabout Junction and Swastik Circle Junction in Erode city has led motorists to renew their demand for a flyover to ease traffic flow.

The road, which is one of the busiest arterial commercial corridors of the city, contributes significantly to the heavy volume of traffic witnessed throughout the day.

Motorists point out that the absence of adequate parking facilities in commercial establishments has resulted in vehicles being parked haphazardly along the roadside, reducing the available carriageway. Lack of continuous footpaths forces pedestrians to walk on the road, further disrupting traffic movement. The movement of buses to the Central Bus Terminal, coupled with traffic heading towards Sakthi Road, Bhavani Road and the GH Roundabout, frequently results in bottlenecks during peak hours. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the Erode Local Planning Area, prepared by Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL), identified the stretch as one of the city’s most congested roads, with average peak-hour speeds falling below 15 kmph.

During the construction of the flyover at the GH Junction, authorities proposed extending the structure along Mettur Road. Soil testing for the proposed extension was carried out in 2019. Though the exercise was completed as part of the proposal, it did not progress further. Since then, the steady increase in vehicle movement has worsened congestion on the road, prompting motorists to reiterate their demand for a flyover.

P.N. Vadivel, a motorist, said motorists travelling towards Sakthi Road faced considerable delays as vehicles continuously entered the main road from Periya Valasu Naal Road, Agilmedu Street, Municipal Colony Road, KVK Road, Premier Road, Nalli Hospital Road and other connecting roads.

“The available road space has already been reduced due to encroachments. With vehicles entering from multiple directions, covering even this short distance becomes a challenge,” he said.

V. Sabapathy, a resident of Rangampalayam, said the high density of traffic and the delay in implementing the flyover project had caused hardship to both motorists and pedestrians. “Crossing the road remains a nightmare for road users,” he said. He pointed out that the movement of buses often brings traffic to a standstill, causing considerable delays for motorists travelling towards Sakthi Road.

Motorists and residents urged the authorities to revive the long-pending flyover proposal, arguing that it would provide a lasting solution to the growing traffic congestion.