To reduce congestion on key national highways in Tamil Nadu, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned capacity upgrades for at least eight highway stretches. The improvements will include bypasses, flyovers, and four-laning in Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, and Cuddalore.

NHAI has invited tenders to appoint consultants for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) on these expansions. The affected highways include NH-181, NH-81, NH-532, NH-85, and NH-136.

Proposed Upgrades Across Highways

- NH-181 (Coimbatore-Gundlupet Route): This stretch will see four bypasses and a road overbridge. A 12-km combined bypass will be built around Karamadai and Mettupalayam, while Coonoor (5 km), Ooty (27 km), and Gudalur (8 km) in the Nilgiris will also get bypasses. A road overbridge is planned near Burliar to replace an existing railway level crossing.

- NH-81 (Coimbatore-Chidambaram Route): Bypasses are proposed for Palladam (14 km), Vellakovil (9 km), and Kangayam (13 km), with a separate 16-km bypass planned for Tiruppur on NH-381.

- NH-136 (Thanjavur-Perambalur-Attur Road): A 65-km four-lane expansion is planned along with the construction of two road overbridges to replace level crossings LC-300A and LC-131.

- NH-532 (Chinnasalem-Cuddalore Route): Two-lane flyovers will be added in Kurinjipadi, Virudhachalam, and Vadalur to improve traffic movement.

Next Steps

The projects will be carried out by the National Highways wing of the Tamil Nadu State Highway Department after the completion of DPRs and approvals from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Once sanctioned, these upgrades are expected to enhance connectivity, reduce travel time, and improve road safety across the region.