Chennai Infrastructure Gets a Lift: NHAI Announces Six-Lane Elevated Corridor

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved a significant infrastructure project in Chennai: a six-lane elevated corridor spanning from Poonamallee to Madhuravoyal. This initiative, with an estimated cost of ₹1,250 crore, is designed to improve access for vehicles arriving from Bengaluru, Krishnagiri, and Vellore, thereby strengthening the city’s western infrastructure. Tenders for this 8.1 km elevated corridor have been released, with construction slated to commence in the next three months and a planned completion timeline of two and a half years. The corridor will feature entry and exit points exclusively at the beginning and end and will be a toll road. The project director for NHAI in Chennai, I.S. Janakumaran, said that about 90,000 vehicles use this section daily. Construction plans include maintaining 10 lanes, including service lanes, to mitigate any impact on traffic flow. The travel time along the corridor will be significantly reduced. When linked to the Outer Ring Road and Sriperumbudur corridor, the 22 km journey will take less than 20 minutes. The project should also accelerate cargo handling at Chennai Port. Suggestions from the local community include upgrading the service lanes and expediting construction. In addition to this project, NHAI is also working on a four-lane Thiruvarur bypass and National Expressway-7.