ECR Stretch from Neelankarai to Injambakkam Set for Upgrade

Tamil Nadu State Highways Department will rebuild a 4 km section of the ECR from Neelankarai to Injambakkam. A ₹9.5 crore tender was tendered on Monday for bituminous macadam laying and subsequent expansion of four lanes into six. The upgrade aims to enhance road quality and alleviate congestion in the bustling corridor.

Officials revealed that the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater), which had been working on the central portion of this stretch, recently handed over the site. “The road expansion will include better footpaths over stormwater drains. Most of the stretch is straightforward, except for a 50-meter section awaiting land acquisition,” a highways official said.

The overall expansion project covers a 10.5-km stretch, but completion by the April deadline seems challenging. In Thiruvanmiyur, only 60% of the required 12,600 square meters of land has been acquired. Similarly, progress in Kottivakkam stands at 65%. While construction on the Neelankarai-Akkarai stretch began in October 2022, about 60% of the work has been completed so far.

Officials anticipate finishing part of the road relaying by February, which could help ease key bottlenecks. However, residents are concerned about the effective utilization of the expanded lanes. “Illegal parking is a persistent issue. Commercial establishments along the stretch occupy the widest parts of the road, forcing vehicles to stick to two lanes,” said R. Ravishankar, a retired banker from Thiruvanmiyur. He noted that only 2 km of the 10.5 km stretch has been restored effectively.

Meanwhile, Metrowater has reported 30% progress in constructing an underground sewage network for Injambakkam, Neelankarai, Kottivakkam, and Palavakkam at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore. This complementary project aims to improve infrastructure in the area, aligning with the road expansion efforts.

The initiative promises better connectivity and infrastructure, but timely execution and proper regulation remain critical to its success.