The tendering process to award a contract to build a 116.5 km six-lane expressway between Chittoor and Thatchur has reached its final stage, despite stiff opposition from a section of landowners in Tiruvallur district. An official told the media that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently selected the lowest-bidder contractors and is expected to issue orders for work to begin soon. The new greenfield project would be built as part of the Bengaluru-Chennai express highway, allowing direct connectivity from Bengaluru to the ports of Kamarajar and Ennore and Kattupalli without passing through Chennai. It was proposed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana project, with a cost estimate of Rs 3,197.6 crore. About 75 km of the proposed road runs through Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district, and 41.5 km through Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district. The revised highway alignment begins near Chittoor, near Keenatampalli, at the 152 km mark of the proposed Bengaluru-Chennai expressway, and ends near Ponneri and Ennore at Thatchur. At Kannigaipair, the highway connects to the proposed 133 km Mamallapuram-Ennore Port Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPRR), providing a direct link to the Ennore Port. The access-controlled expressway will be fenced on both sides and designed to accommodate vehicles travelling at speeds of up to 100 km per hour. It will be 70 m wide, with six lanes. The project has been divided into four parts, according to NHAI sources, and contracts are being awarded to the lowest bidders. An official said that orders will be issued to begin civil work after the pending paperwork is completed. The project will require 885.5 hectares, with 525 hectares in Andhra Pradesh and 360.5 in Tamil Nadu. The road will pass through 30 villages in Tiruvallur's Uthukottai and Pallipattu taluks. Farmers from 26 villages are strongly opposed to the project, claiming that it will cut through their fertile lands, putting their livelihoods at risk. Image SourceAlso read: IndiaRF announces Rs 555 cr investment for Thrissur expressway