NHAI allocates Rs 80 million for Chennai-Bengaluru highway repairs

11 Nov 2024 CW Team

Motorists frequently encounter dangerous conditions due to the absence of proper barricades, which causes vehicles to skid when crossing certain sections. Service roads, burdened with diverted traffic, are lined with cement barricades, stones, and drums that often lack reflective tape or cat’s eyes, making them almost invisible at night.

S Yuvraj of the Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association, which filed a police complaint regarding these issues, highlighted that despite NHAI collecting Rs 1.40 billion annually in tolls from the Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram plazas, maintenance investments have been minimal. He pointed out that street lights are lacking on these stretches, and non-functional high-mast lamps further reduce nighttime visibility.

NHAI project director Savithri Devi stated that the six-laning work between Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram is scheduled for completion by mid-2025. Toll fees have not been raised since March 2023, owing to the pending work. The road widening is divided into two sections: a 34-kilometre stretch between Maduravoyal and Sriperumbudur, with 14 kilometres already six-laned, and the section from Sriperumbudur to Kancheepuram, where work was halted due to contractor disputes over fly ash procurement. This issue has now been resolved, and new contractors are set to resume work next year.

For maintenance, the initial 34-kilometer stretch was handed over to the state highways department, with NHAI providing a fixed deposit for its upkeep. NHAI is also investing Rs 10.3 million to install lights and rubber speed breakers. For the remaining section, Rs 70 million has been earmarked for short-term maintenance, including road relaying and pothole repairs, which is expected to commence next month, according to NHAI officials.

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has allocated Rs 80 million to repair and enhance safety on a 60-kilometer stretch of the Chennai-Bengaluru highway between Maduravoyal and Kancheepuram. This decision follows an increase in accidents, criticism, and appeals from Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMK MPs. The section, plagued by potholes, inadequate lighting, and hazardous conditions due to on-going road widening and poorly planned diversions, has faced delays in its six-lane expansion. Motorists frequently encounter dangerous conditions due to the absence of proper barricades, which causes vehicles to skid when crossing certain sections. Service roads, burdened with diverted traffic, are lined with cement barricades, stones, and drums that often lack reflective tape or cat’s eyes, making them almost invisible at night. S Yuvraj of the Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association, which filed a police complaint regarding these issues, highlighted that despite NHAI collecting Rs 1.40 billion annually in tolls from the Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram plazas, maintenance investments have been minimal. He pointed out that street lights are lacking on these stretches, and non-functional high-mast lamps further reduce nighttime visibility. NHAI project director Savithri Devi stated that the six-laning work between Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram is scheduled for completion by mid-2025. Toll fees have not been raised since March 2023, owing to the pending work. The road widening is divided into two sections: a 34-kilometre stretch between Maduravoyal and Sriperumbudur, with 14 kilometres already six-laned, and the section from Sriperumbudur to Kancheepuram, where work was halted due to contractor disputes over fly ash procurement. This issue has now been resolved, and new contractors are set to resume work next year. For maintenance, the initial 34-kilometer stretch was handed over to the state highways department, with NHAI providing a fixed deposit for its upkeep. NHAI is also investing Rs 10.3 million to install lights and rubber speed breakers. For the remaining section, Rs 70 million has been earmarked for short-term maintenance, including road relaying and pothole repairs, which is expected to commence next month, according to NHAI officials.

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..