Tiruppur: In a major infrastructure push for western Tamil Nadu, the Central Government has decided to upgrade the 102.5 km stretch of National Highway NH 544 from Salem to Chengapalli in Tiruppur district from the existing four lanes to six lanes. Work on preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the ambitious expansion has commenced, marking a significant step toward easing traffic congestion on one of the region’s most critical arterial routes.

The decision comes after sustained efforts by Tiruppur MP K. Subbarayan, who has been personally meeting Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the past three years, repeatedly submitting petitions highlighting the urgent need for the highway’s expansion.

Salem – Chengapalli expressway: Strategic importance of the corridor

NH 544 serves as a vital link connecting the industrial districts of Salem, Namakkal, Erode, and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu with Palakkad, Thrissur, and Kochi in Kerala. While the 54 km stretch from Coimbatore (Neelampur) to Chengapalli has already been developed as a six-lane, access-controlled expressway with flyovers eliminating all obstructions, the remaining 102.5 km from Chengapalli to Salem continues to operate as a four-lane highway, creating a bottleneck that affects thousands of commuters daily.

MP Subbarayan’s persistent advocacy

In his representations to the Union Minister, MP Subbarayan had pointed out that more than 30,000 vehicles ply this route daily, leading to severe traffic congestion, wastage of fuel, and increased environmental pollution. “This highway is a very important route connecting Salem, Namakkal, Erode and Coimbatore districts with Palakkad, Thrissur and Kochi in Kerala. The stretch from Coimbatore to Chengapally has already been converted into a 6-lane highway. However, the 102.5 km stretch from Chengapally to Salem is still a 4-lane highway. It should be expanded urgently in the interest of the public,” he had urged.

Government’s response

Responding to the MP’s persistent requests, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has confirmed that a Detailed Project Report is being prepared for the six-laning project. Further action will be taken based on the findings of this study. In a related development, the Minister also announced that approval has been granted for constructing a flyover near Bhavani in Lakshmi Nagar, Erode district, with tender work already underway to address local traffic congestion.

Regional impact

Once completed, the six-lane highway from Chengapalli to Salem will provide seamless high-speed connectivity across western Tamil Nadu, complementing the already modernized Coimbatore–Chengapalli expressway. The project is expected to be a significant boon for the residents and industries of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, and Salem districts, reducing travel time, cutting fuel costs, and improving road safety on this crucial inter-state corridor.