Tamil Nadu Four Lane: With the aim of boosting road connectivity in southern India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Railways has approved the construction of a four-lane highway between Marakkanam and Puducherry in Tamil Nadu. The 46-km four-lane highway will be built at a cost of Rs 2,157 crore and will facilitate connectivity to two major national highways and two major state highways. The four-lane highway will drive economic growth across Tamil Nadu.
- A 46-km-long four-lane highway is to be developed in Tamil Nadu, connecting Marakkanam to Puducherry. The Union cabinet has approved the proposal for construction, and the further process is underway.
- The highway will be integrated with two major National Highways, NH-32 and NH-332 and two state highways, SH-136 and SH-203.
- The four-lane highway will provide seamless connectivity to key economic, social, and logistic nodes across Tamil Nadu, news agency PTI reported.
- In addition to this, the highway will enhance multi-modal integration by linking two railway stations (Puducherry and Chinnababusamudram), two airports (in Chennai and Puducherry), and one minor port (Cuddalore).
- The project will bring eight lakh person-days of direct employment opportunities and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment opportunities, Times Now reported.
- Once the construction of the highway is completed, goods and passengers will move at a faster speed across the region.
- The highway project will also boost local tourism in the region, while providing access to key religious and economic hubs.
Currently, a two-lane stretch of NH-332A and nearby state highways connects Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram, and Nagapattinam, leading to heavy traffic congestion, especially along the routes of busy town areas.