The government has announced plans to complete the long-delayed elevated corridor project from Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi on East Coast Road within 18 months, with the goal of easing traffic congestion in the area. In the meantime, the road expansion work along the 8.8-kilometre stretch from Thiruvanmiyur to Akkarai is being expedited and is scheduled to be finished by April 2025.
The elevated corridor, designed to cut travel time along the 15-kilometre route, will start at the TIDEL Park junction and conclude at Uthandi, passing through significant locations such as the LB Road junction, Kottivakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, and Akkarai. On-ramps and off-ramps will be strategically positioned at the LB Road junction, Thiruvanmiyur RTO office, and Neelankarai to provide easy access for local residents. Once the corridor is completed, it is expected to reduce travel time to just 20 minutes. This was highlighted during an inspection of the East Coast Road by Highways Minister EV Velu.
As part of the ongoing expansion of East Coast Road, which is a crucial route connecting Chennai to Kanyakumari via several major towns, land acquisition for the six-lane road is already in progress in six villages, including Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, and Sholinganallur. This stretch of road has been experiencing heavy traffic due to the rapid growth of the IT sector and the increasing number of high-rise buildings along the corridor. The widening project, which is divided into four phases, is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion on this route, according to an official release.
The government has allocated Rs 9.40 billion for the road widening. The work in areas such as Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, and Sholinganallur is currently underway, with the entire project anticipated to be completed by April 11, 2025.
In addition to road widening, the project will include the construction of a central median barrier, pavement blocks, and a rainwater drainage system. The rainwater drainage work in the land-acquired areas has already been completed, and TANGEDCO is in the process of relocating utility equipment. Once this relocation is finished, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board will begin laying water pipes and underground sewage pipes on both sides of the road. Minister Velu has urged department officials to ensure that the projects are completed quickly and to a high standard, so they can be opened to the public as soon as possible.
