One more Greenfield highway to connect Chennai and Chittoor
Posted on: 28/Jul/2018 2:36:10 PM
Following the Greenfield expressway project between Chennai and Salem, here is the next new project by the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) for a 6-lane Greenfield highway between Thatchur, Chennai to Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. This project is set to cover a total distance of 126.550 km, devastating Pulikundram reserve forest lying along Red Hills range, Tiruvallur.
According to official records, reserve forest of about 32 hectares will have to be cleared. For this road project, land acquisition of 885.5 hectares including 525 hectare from Andhra Pradesh and 360.5 hectares in Tamil Nadu will be necessary. Notably, of the total land area to be acquired, 64 percent of them are agricultural in nature and 15 percent barren and forest area accounts to 10 percent.
Bharatmala Pariyojana
This project is to be handled by the NHAI under the Centre’s umbrella scheme called the Bharatmala Pariyojana. The overall project estimate is Rs 3,197.56 crore. According to sources, a comprehensive presentation about the road project was presented to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways while the Tamil Nadu CM and in-principal had given their approval.
On Thursday, the Expert Appraisal Committee, EAC under the Union Environment Ministry received the proposal for terms of reference for this Environment Impact Assessment.
According to the initial stage of assessment made, for every kilometer, about 150-200 trees are to be hit! Upon a detailed study by ETA and Forest Clearance proposals (abiding by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980), the total number of trees that will probably get affected will be found.
What’s its plus?
According to the Detailed Project Report, it is evident that the new greenfield highway will be beneficial for the Kamarajar Port and Kattupalli Port that recently went on to the hands of Adani. The alignment between Chitoor and Tatchur will give out a direct connectivity between Bengaluru and Chittoor.
This economic corridor between Chennai and Kurnool begins in Chennai city and ends at Kurnool and travels via Puttur, Kadapa, Renigunta, and Nandyal. A portion of this falling between Nagari and Renigunta will come under National Highways Development Project. Hence, once the Nagari to Chennai stretch gets completed in the Chennai to Kurnool corridor, it shall serve as an alternate for Chennai to Bengaluru or Chittoor.
In addition, container traffic travels via the congested bypass roads in Chennai in order to move from Bengaluru towards Kamarajar and Kattupalli ports. In Tamil Nadu, northern ports are getting developed in order to provide access to the route starting from Thatchur to Kamarajar and Kattupalli ports. Hence, with the Greenfield alignment between Chittoor and Thatchur, a direct connectivity between Bengaluru and Chittoor will be possible.
