The state government has renewed efforts to build an elevated corridor along the 10.5-km Madhavaram-Nallur stretch of the Chennai-Kolkata national highway, a move that officials say could provide a lasting solution to chronic congestion in North Chennai. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay pressed the union government at a recent NITI Aayog meeting to support the project alongside other infrastructure initiatives. The proposal has raised expectations among local residents and civic groups. The route continues to act as a major bottleneck because it could not be widened into a six-lane carriageway owing to widespread encroachments and resistance from traders. By contrast, the 33.5-km section from the Nallur toll plaza to the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh border has already been widened to six lanes and opened to traffic, illustrating the potential benefits of complete corridor upgrades. Residents estimate the 10.5-km stretch carries nearly 0.15 million (mn) vehicles a day, contributing to severe delays that affect emergency response and daily commuting. A village welfare association representative reported that during medical emergencies it often takes 90 minutes or more to reach hospitals in the city because of gridlock on the highway. National Highways Authority of India has prepared a detailed project report for an elevated corridor from the Chennai Bypass to the Outer Ring Road near the Nallur toll plaza, but implementation stalled after 2018. Community activists have called on the state government and the highway authority to form a coordination committee to resolve bottlenecks in widening works and to expedite the elevated corridor, which they argue would ease through traffic and improve access for North Chennai. Officials have proposed handing the stretch to the state, noting that heavy urbanisation has placed traffic signals at nearly every kilometre and that frequent pedestrian crossings and access to both sides disrupt through movement. Addressing encroachments and trader resistance remains central to any durable solution.