It has been almost a year since the Avinashi Road was thrown open for public use, but it still lacks pedestrian-friendly facilities like footpath.
\| Photo Credit: SIVA SARAVANAN S

For almost 11 km on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city, from Uppilipalayam to Chinniyampalayam, pedestrians struggle to cross the road or walk along the road edges as there are no proper footpaths or facilities to cross the road.

The busy Avinashi Road houses colleges, schools, commercial buildings and hospitals on either side and is is used by many pedestrians, including the elderly and schoolchildren.

In a few spots, there are pelican crossings. In some places, police personnel help the students cross the road, especially during the peak hours. But, a lack of permanent structures pose risks to pedestrians, said Alamelu, who goes to a college on Avinashi road by bus and has to cross the road to board a bus.

“I visited the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex for an expo with my two children. We walked back till Avinashi Road and waited for almost 15 minutes to cross the road,” said Pramela, a homemaker.

There were plans to have five subways on Avinashi Road when the flyover was being planned, but they were later dropped. Then, there were plans to construct foot over bridges, but those, too, were not taken up.

“It was initially reported in the media that the subways were not taken up because there were plans to have a metro rail on Avinashi Road. However, now that the metro rail project is in limbo, the Highways Department should construct pedestrian-friendly facilities on either side of Avinashi Road,” said Anand, who drops his daughter at a coaching centre on Avinashi Road every day.

“How can there be a major road in the city without footpaths?” Asks Charles, a resident of Peelamedu. It has been almost a year since the Avinashi Road flyover was thrown open for public use. The requirements of pedestrians should be studied and taken up without any further delay, say the residents.

Published - July 22, 2026 07:38 pm IST