New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has given the green light for INR 2281.10 crore investment in the widening and strengthening of national highways in Tamil Nadu.
Announcing the allocation on his official social media account, Gadkari detailed the approval of INR 1376.10 crore for the expansion of the existing 2-lane paved shoulder from Tiruvallur to the Tamil Nadu/Andhra Pradesh border section of National Highway 716. This transformation is set to convert the current configuration into a four-lane highway with paved shoulders, covering a 43.95 km stretch in Thiruvallur district under Package-1.
The development aims to establish a fully access-controlled corridor, playing a pivotal role in connecting the holy cities of Tiruthani and Tirupathi, the minister said.
In a separate announcement, Gadkari shared that an additional INR 905.00 crore has been sanctioned for the enhancement of the alignment of the 6.6 Km long Thoppur Ghat section of national highway, spanning Dharmapuri and Salem districts. This particular stretch, notorious for its challenging terrain and deficiencies, including sharp S-curves with a radius as low as 110m, has been a hotspot for accidents.
The proposed improvements for this critical segment of National Highway 44 include the construction of an elevated corridor/viaduct on the left-hand side, with the primary objective of mitigating accidents and ensuring safe passage. Gadkari emphasized the strategic importance of this stretch, being an integral part of the Bengaluru – Kanyakumari section of the North-South corridor in Tamil Nadu.
