Chennai: Chennai will stand to gain from the six-laning of the Narasannapeta — Ranastalam section project in Andhra Pradesh, which was recently approved by the Union Cabinet for an estimated cost of Rs 1,423 crore.
The metro will become part of the golden quadrilateral connecting Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. NH 16 is part of the golden quadrilateral which connects the north and south corridor. The six-lane facility which was proposed is the Chennai-Tada highway has been on the backburner for long. Now with the Cabinet clearing the project falling in the neighbouring AP, the prospects of six-laning appears to be bright.
Meanwhile, the eight-lane highway could be a reality in the near future in TN with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the process of identifying a consultant who would prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 93-kilometre stretch between Tambaram and Tindivanam on National Highway 45.
Over the years there has been a significant increase in traffic. As per official estimates about 70,000 vehicles pass through every day and this leads to traffic congestion at several points, particularly at Perungalathur, where the Chennai Bypass meets NH 45, and in Vandalur and Guduvancherry.
If the eight-lane highway comes up, it would be the first such corridor in the State. Currently, the state has six lanes between Walajahpet and Hosur on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway.
