The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change's expert evaluation committee has released detailed terms of reference for the creation of an environment impact assessment research report for a 312 km long, four-lane greenfield expansion project between Nagapattinam and Tuticorin. The project's estimated cost is Rs 122.33 billion and it passes through the districts of Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Ramanathapuram along the east coast. It's anticipated that the EIA study will be finished in a few months in order to acquire environmental and other permissions. According to NHAI sources, the contract for two of the stretch's five packages between Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin will be granted before the end of the year. By May, a notification under section 3A of the National Highway Act of 1956 is anticipated to be issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Utility relocation, if necessary, site acquisition, and other pre-construction tasks will be finished prior to contract award. The project is being managed by NHAI headquarters. One of the important areas that the BJP is focusing on in the general elections is Ramanathapuram. The project is a component of the enhancement of freight transport in the nation as well as the creation of coastal highways, economic corridors, inter corridors, and feeder routes. The existing 19 km of the Ramanathapuram bypass will be upgraded from two to four lanes, and a new greenfield alignment of 290 km with a 45 m right of way would be developed. The NH 49 would be over by around 4 km.