The new bypass road project for Ooty has reached 80% completion, with plans to open it to vehicular traffic by the second tourist season.
Coimbatore: The new bypass road project for Ooty has reached 80% completion, with plans to open it to vehicular traffic by the second tourist season.
Ooty experiences tourist seasons in April, May, September, and October, attracting a large number of tourists from other states and countries. During weekends, 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles visit the hill station daily, leading to severe traffic congestion in Ooty. This congestion often prevents tourists from visiting specific attractions, forcing them to return early.
Additionally, tourists from Kerala and Karnataka who plan to stay for three days often find themselves returning in one day due to traffic delays. These delays cause significant time wastage for tourists sitting in their vehicles. During the rainy season, tourists are required to park their vehicles at Thalaikunda and take government-run shuttle buses to tourist centers, leading to further delays and inconvenience, particularly for the elderly and sick.
In response to these issues, the state highway department has planned a new bypass road project. This project, costing Rs 40 crore, will enable vehicles coming from Mettupalayam to reach Ooty directly without passing through Coonoor. The new road will cover a distance of 20.5 km and pass through Kattery, Selas, Ketti Palada, Kollimalai, and Gandhipet.
Once completed, this road will allow many vehicles from the plains to reach Ooty without causing congestion in Coonoor. The project is expected to be completed soon, with plans to open it to traffic by the second tourist season.
Highways Department Assistant Engineer Balachandran stated, “The new bypass road project, designed to ease traffic congestion on the Coonoor-Ooty road, is 80% complete. It will be operational soon. Tourists from the plains will be redirected from Kattery, allowing them to reach Ooty quickly.”
Ooty experiences tourist seasons in April, May, September, and October, attracting a large number of tourists from other states and countries. During weekends, 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles visit the hill station daily, leading to severe traffic congestion in Ooty. This congestion often prevents tourists from visiting specific attractions, forcing them to return early.
Additionally, tourists from Kerala and Karnataka who plan to stay for three days often find themselves returning in one day due to traffic delays. These delays cause significant time wastage for tourists sitting in their vehicles. During the rainy season, tourists are required to park their vehicles at Thalaikunda and take government-run shuttle buses to tourist centers, leading to further delays and inconvenience, particularly for the elderly and sick.
In response to these issues, the state highway department has planned a new bypass road project. This project, costing Rs 40 crore, will enable vehicles coming from Mettupalayam to reach Ooty directly without passing through Coonoor. The new road will cover a distance of 20.5 km and pass through Kattery, Selas, Ketti Palada, Kollimalai, and Gandhipet.
Once completed, this road will allow many vehicles from the plains to reach Ooty without causing congestion in Coonoor. The project is expected to be completed soon, with plans to open it to traffic by the second tourist season.
Highways Department Assistant Engineer Balachandran stated, “The new bypass road project, designed to ease traffic congestion on the Coonoor-Ooty road, is 80% complete. It will be operational soon. Tourists from the plains will be redirected from Kattery, allowing them to reach Ooty quickly.”