NHAI Completes Rs 15.9 Billion Four-Lane Stretch On ECR

15 Oct 2025 CW Team

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the four-laning of the 38 km Puducherry–Poondiyankuppam stretch, ending near Cuddalore, in a development that will cut travel time by up to two hours, according to a report by The New Indian Express.

The upgraded section, built at a cost of Rs 15.9 billion under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I, marks a major milestone in the ongoing East Coast Road (ECR) widening programme. The project promises a smoother, faster drive for motorists travelling towards Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, and Nagapattinam.

With this completion, 220 km of the 300 km Thiruvanmiyur–Nagapattinam corridor has now been widened to four lanes and made operational, significantly improving connectivity across Tamil Nadu’s coastal and delta districts.

According to officials, the overall travel time between Chennai and Nagapattinam (320 km) is expected to drop from seven to six hours by car and from nine to seven hours by bus.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to dedicate the newly completed section to the nation on 13 October. On the same occasion, he will also lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the 46 km Marakkanam–Puducherry segment, which forms the final link in the 300 km ECR widening initiative.

Completed stretches now include Thiruvanmiyur–Mamallapuram (41 km) and Poondiyankuppam–Sattanathapuram (57 km). Work is ongoing on the Sattanathapuram–Nagapattinam (56 km) and Mamallapuram–Marakkanam (62 km) sections, of which 85 km have already been finished. The remaining portions are expected to be completed by mid-next year.

The expanded corridor is set to boost trade, tourism, and logistics efficiency across Tamil Nadu’s eastern coast, providing a modern, high-speed link between Chennai and key port cities in the state.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..