Police said Raja Rammohan (56) was riding his two-wheeler when two persons on a motorbike accosted him at a spot on Trichy road and sought clarification on an address. Even as he was giving it, one of them hacked him with a sickle in full public view.
The contractor died on the spot after which the duo fled the area, they said.
On being informed of the murder police rushed to the spot and recovered the body.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Rammohan had undergone a jail term in connection with a criminal case, police said, adding they were looking into whether the murder was due to previous enmity or business rivalry.