NHAI Allocates Rs 8 Crore for Safety Enhancements on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway Amid Rising Concerns

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has allocated Rs 8 crore to improve safety and repair a 60-kilometer section of the Chennai-Bengaluru highway between Maduravoyal and Kancheepuram, responding to a surge in accidents and concerns raised by Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMK MPs. The stretch, notorious for its potholes, poor lighting, and hazardous conditions due to ongoing road expansion, is often perilous for motorists, who face skidding risks due to a lack of proper barricades and poorly managed diversions.

Traffic on the service roads has increased significantly due to diversions, but many areas lack reflective tape, proper markings, and cat’s eyes, making nighttime navigation especially dangerous. Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association, led by S Yuvraj, has criticized the minimal upkeep, despite NHAI collecting Rs 140 crore annually in tolls from the Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram plazas. Yuvraj also highlighted the absence of street lights and non-operational high-mast lamps, which further reduce visibility at night.

According to NHAI project director Savithri Devi, the highway’s six-laning work between Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram will complete by mid-2025. This widening is divided into two segments: a 34-kilometer stretch from Maduravoyal to Sriperumbudur, where 14 kilometers are already six-laned, and the section from Sriperumbudur to Kancheepuram, which faced delays due to contractor disputes. With the issue now resolved, contractors will resume work next year.

For maintenance, NHAI handed over the initial 34 kilometers to the state highways department, backing it with a fixed deposit. Additionally, Rs 1.03 crore is being allocated for lighting and rubber speed breakers, while Rs 7 crore is reserved for immediate road repairs on the remaining section, expected to start next month.