Widening of NH45 likely around month end
Posted on: 12/Feb/2019 12:37:10 PM
It has been almost 10 years since the National Highways Authority of India had announced about works to widen national highway 45A (new number being 332A) that connects Chennai and Nagapattinam along the south-eastern coast corridor. This project of estimated cost of Rs 6000 crore is likely to get rolled out by end of this month (February) and that it will probably get over in another 2 years.
This project is to fall under the Centre’s Bharatmala Prayojana phase-1 in hybrid annuity mode. It is a four-laning project along 180 km stretch that dots Vilupuram and Nagapatinam via Puducherry, Chidambaram, Cuddalore, Sirkazhi and Karaikal. The project shall be carried out in 4 phases. For the first 3 phases of the work, necessary land acquisition works are completed. Tender allocation and contractors are assigned and by end of February, works are likely to kick-start. In another 2 years, the project will be likely to begin, say NHAI project officials.
Amidst these, the NHAI has notified to acquire furthermore land area of about 107.2644 hectares as per the NH Act. This is to meet the needs of project in Kancheepuram district. With this done right, traffic along the south-eastern coast is likely to get better, thus paving way for seamless vehicle traffic movement towards ports in Karaikal and Chennai. And it will also reduce the overall travel time and guarantees a smooth drive for the commuters who hail from the east coast corridor in Nagapattinam. This shall boost the economy along this stretch, and the industries would get more of business at Villupuram, Cuddalore and Puducherry. In addition, there will be substantial reduction in vehicular traffic that enters town and reduces traffic.
At Nagapattinam, there have however been hindrances for the project to carry out the road works along the 56 km stretch along Sattanathapuram and Nagapattinam. This was due to the delay caused by the authorities in acquiring land area. Land acquisition has got delayed because of cyclone Gaja, officials blame.
