Route between Chennai and Tirupati to be widened

After a nearly six-year hiatus, the 22-kilometer Padi-Thiruninravur portion of the Chennai-Tirupati Highway (CTH) is due to reopen soon. The state roads department recently released Rs 1.52 billion to acquire land. In addition, at a cost of Rs 3.40 billion, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun civil construction to convert the 17-kilometer Thiruninravur-Tiruvallur stretch of CTH into a four-lane road. In 2007, the State government wanted to convert the Chennai-Tiruttani-Renigunta SH to a six-lane road in order to assist the smooth movement of cars to Tiruttani and Tirupati. The 58-kilometer stretch of the road from Alamelurangapuram to Thiruvanindravur that NHAI widened was finished by Tiruvallur. Due to difficulties acquiring land, the last 17 kilometres of construction could not be finished. Similar to this, the State Highways Department was only able to enlarge the road into a four-lane stretch of the 22 km of CTH between the Padi-Korattur junction and Thiruvanindravur. Traders from a few other locations, including Mannurpet, Padi, and Ambattur, protested against the project. Cases were brought up against the project's land acquisition. The project was abandoned in 2010–2011 as a result of disagreements that occurred between a few government departments regarding the transfer of land to the roads department. However, the number of automobiles on the road continued to increase and surpassed 1 lakh in 2013. The State allocated '1.68 billion in February 2013 to complete the unfinished work. After several surveys, the project's start date was postponed because it proved difficult to identify the boundaries of individual land parcels. According to residents, the CTH has traffic congestion during peak hours from Ambattur Estate junction to Padi flyover as the four-lane NH narrows to a two-lane section near the Ambattur train station. A highways official stated, “The issues in land acquisition are being settled and 1.52 billion has been allotted. The work will begin soon as per the due procedure.” It was suggested as part of the widening to turn the two-lane road over bridge (ROB) near the Ambattur railway station into a six-lane section. “To build the six-lane ROB, 130 million has been allotted for land acquisition. A proposal has been sent to the railways for approval,” added the official. Ambattur resident, S Rangathan stated, “Widening of the NH from Padi to Tiruvallur has been delayed for more than 10 years. It should be completed at the earliest. If the stretch from Thiruninravur to Tiruvallur is widened, vehicles can bypass Tiruvallur town.” An NHAI official said, “Levelling of the NH has begun in a few places. The four-lane road will be ready in 18 months.” See also: Tiruninravur-Tiruvallur high road will shortly be widened Widening of NH-181 commences in Coimbatore