CHENNAI: The vehicular movement on one of the country’s busiest stretches between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur along the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway is set to get smooth, thanks to the six-lane elevated expressway project.
The project aimed at decongesting the NH-48 between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur has been on paper for several years and is now nearing its date of commencement with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) having floated tenders for the project. The 13.7-km six-lane elevated expressway to link the Chennai Outer Ring Road at Nemilicheri with Sriperumbudur is estimated to cost `2,165.27 crore. The elevated project is an extension of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, according to NHAI officials.
The 264-km proposed Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will begin at Hoskote in Bengaluru and end at Sripermbudur in Tamil Nadu. “The six-lane elevated project is aimed at providing faster traffic between express highway and the Chennai outer ring road via Poonamallee. Motorists taking express highway can travel faster,” said official sources.
In addition to this, the elevated express highway will also link the Chennai Port with Sriperumbudur through the 42-km elevated corridor, after the 18.3-km Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated expressway project is completed.
“A detailed project report is being prepared by a consultancy for connecting Maduravoyal with Nazarethpet to build the 11-km elevated highway, thereby connecting the Chennai Port with Sriperumbudur through elevated road,” H M Naqvi, Regional Officer, Chennai (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), told Express.
The Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway is one of the busiest stretches, handling more than 75,000 vehicles a day. The elevated corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur.
“The express highway will reduce the travel time during rush hour and is designed to facilitate vehicle speed at 100 kmph,” said an official.
The project will be completed within two-and-a-half years under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract model and the contract company has to maintain the road for four years.
“The project is in preliminary stage and after completing the due procedures, the works will begin,” the officials said. “The government has already initiated procedures for acquiring land and the work is in an advanced stage.”
The stretch
The 13.7-km road would pass through Nazarethpet, Nazarethpet Varatharajapuram, Thirumazhisai, Chembarampakkam, Pappanchatram, Chettipedu, Thandalam and Irunkattukottai. The land acquisition process is in progress.