Mahabalipuram and Marakkanam ECR stretch to turn 4 lane
Posted on: 14/Nov/2018 5:58:29 PM
There will be vehicular underpasses as well as grade separators at 14 locations along the stretch between Mahabalipuram and Mugaiyur. There will also be vehicular underpasses along the stretch between Mugaiur and Marakkana.
One year ago, the Tamil Nadu government gave away ‘in principle’ approval to improve the East Coast Road. Following this, the National Highways Authority of India has now come up with the idea to expand the stretch of 61.4 km between Mahabalipuram and Marakkanam and make it a 4-lane road.
There were call for bids to expand a portion of ECR for the rate Rs 1209 crore. This will be done under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-1 along feeder routes.
As per the official documents, the width of roads at present is of the range 7 to 14m covering Mahabalipuram and Marakkanam. This will get expanded to 40-70m along with service lanes at a few areas.
These works shall be carried out in 2 phases. At an estimated price of Rs 617.47 crore, the stretch covering Mahabalipuram and Mugaiyur will be widened to 31km stretch. And in the next phase, at an estimated cost of Rs 592.44 crore, the stretch between Mugaiyur and Marakkanam will be widened. In this new road proposal, there are plans to include U-turns to ensure road safety and prevent accidents.
There are going to be vehicular underpasses and grade separators used at 14 locations along the stretch between Mahabalipuram and Mugaiyur. Likewise, there are going to be 11 such grade separators along Mugaiyur and Marakkanam stretch.
With that, there will be such separators for each of the 2.5 km along ECR. And there will also be U-turn so that vehicles will be prevented from getting crossed over with the main carriageway. Furthermore, the curves along the 60.4 km stretch will also be straightened.
There is also going to be 3 bypass roads covering 12.7 km length. One at Vengapakkam of 3.32 km, one at Meiyur at 4.38 km and one at Gundumanicherry of 5 km. This will be done as an integral part of expanding Mahabalipuram-Mugaiyur stretch.
Straightening of curves along Mugaiur and Marakkaam are to be done at 13 different locations. This shall be of 13.9 km length. It will be done at Mugaiyur, Vilambur, Marakkanam and Kadapakkam.
Surveying this 30 km length covering Marakkanam and Puducherry is likely to get completed. In a few months, this stretch will be handled, say sources from NHAI.
At present, there are 4 lanes along the 44 km stretch starting from Tiruvanmiyur until Mamallapuram. It will be maintained by the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company which is different entity from the state highways wing.
It was back in 2009 that the 690-km ECR was proposed to be extended into a 4-lane stretch. The estimated cost was Rs 1400. However, the TN government had not given its nod for the same the reason being the road condition that might not get such adequate traffic for making enough revenue.
Following this delay, the NHAI was given approval by the state government to upgrade the road. The NHAI has then decided to carry out the widening works. ECR will thus get renumbered from its existing SH-49 to NH-332.
With this expansion of road route, commuters will get a an alternative route to move on towards Nagapattinam. This shall decongest Chennai to Trichy National Highway.
So the length between ECR starting from Thiruvanmiyur till Mahabalipuram will have 4 lanes and have 44-km stretch
The stretch between Mahabalipuram and Marakkanam will have 4-lanes covering 61.4 km
The stretch between Marakkanam and Puducherry will have 30 km and shall be covered in the second phase.
Between Puducherry and Nagapattinam, in the stretch of 150 km, ECR will be widened by the NHAI.
In two years from now, the stretch between Akkarai and Nagapattinam will also be having 4 lanes starting from ECR.
There will be an alternative route to reach Thanjavur and few other coastal regions.
The Mahabalipuram road will get the numbering as NH332.
Details of the projects are as follows
- The stretch between Mahabalipuram and Marakkanam will get widened with four lanes at an estimated cost of Rs 1209 crore.
- There will be underpass and grade separators in 25 different locations.
- At 11 places, there are going to be service lanes in the length of 13.65 km.
- About 27,430 trees will get planted.
- At 51 different locations, bus shelters are to be constructed.
