The Tamil Nadu State Highways Authority ( TNSHA ) has launched a major road project along the East Coast Road ( ECR ). A four -lane elevated corridor, covering 14.2 km from Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi, will soon be built to reduce heavy congestion. The project cost is estimated at Rs 2,100 crore. The corridor will begin near Tidel Park and extend up to Uthandi. It will be built on the road median with supporting pillars and will include pathways for pedestrians. The structure will have a width ranging from 16 to 20 metres and a clearance height of 5.5 metres for vehicles below. International tenders for construction were floated on August 26. Officials confirmed that the project will follow the hybrid annuity model (HAM), which combines EPC and BOT methods. The stretch between Thiruvanmiyur and Uthandi currently takes around one hour during peak hours. Once the elevated road is operational, motorists travelling towards Mamallapuram, Puducherry, and Cuddalore are expected to cover the same route in 15 to 20 minutes. The project will provide relief across 13 traffic-heavy junctions including Neelankarai, Kottivakkam, Vettuvankeni, Injambakkam, Akkarai, and Panaiyur. Exit ramps will be built at LB Road Junction, Thiruvanmiyur RTO, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, and Akkarai. The corridor will function as a toll road under a closed-gate system. Charges will be collected based on distance travelled. Along with easing congestion on ECR, the corridor will serve as an alternative route for commuters moving from Adyar to Kelambakkam, Thiruporur, and Mambakkam through ECR, reducing pressure on the busy OMR stretch. At present, the section handles nearly 70,000 passenger car units daily. Officials expect the new flyover to bring smoother traffic flow for both local and intercity travellers.Alongside this project, the six-laning of a 9.2 km portion between Thiruvanmiyur and Akkarai is close to completion, with about 90 per cent of work already done. Currently, the state’s longest operational elevated corridor is the 7.3 km Madurai–Natham road. Once completed, the Thiruvanmiyur–Uthandi corridor will be the longest of its kind in Tamil Nadu.
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