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A long-stalled greenfield project for a four-lane road connecting Coimbatore to Sathyamangalam and extending to the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border has gained new momentum. Initially planned over five years ago, the project was delayed due to the need for a dedicated land acquisition cell, which the Tamil Nadu government has now approved. The Coimbatore District Collector is set to appoint officials for this cell within the month. The proposed 96-km road will feature four lanes from Coimbatore to the foothills of Sathyamangalam and two lanes in the ghat section up to the Kakanallah border. The Central government has allocated ?640 crore to acquire nearly 4,000 acres for the project, with a detailed estimate for road development to be prepared once land acquisition nears completion. Originally managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the project has since transferred to the NH wing of the State Highways Department. The initial land acquisition notification expired due to delays, but officials confirm the project is now back on track. Meanwhile, local farmers in Annur near Coimbatore oppose the project, arguing that widening the existing road to Sathyamangalam should suffice. They plan to submit a petition to Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati and continue protests against the land acquisition. (The Hindu)