The Padi RoB widening project on Chennai’s Inner Ring Road is nearing completion, with the State Highways Department reporting that 94% of its work has been finished and smoother traffic expected by January. The Rs 155-crore project covers a 1.1-km bottleneck and includes widening the road overbridge, improving approach roads and building U-turn service roads beneath the bridge.
The existing three-lane bridge and the narrower roads approaching it have been a major constraint on the Inner Ring Road, which otherwise follows a dual five-lane configuration. Near Padi railway station on the Villivakkam side, the carriageway narrows to two lanes, while sharp curves beyond the bridge approach have contributed to an accident-prone stretch.
The Railways is currently widening the existing bridge on both sides, with the railway portion at the substructure stage. A senior Highways Department official said the remaining road works would begin after the railway work is completed. The widened carriageway will be opened to traffic once the work is finished.
The project also includes U-turn service roads below the RoB on the Padi and Red Hills sides. The state government sanctioned Rs 14.5 crore for these roads in July 2025. Officials said the links would allow residents of Villivakkam, Kolathur, Thathankuppam and nearby areas to cross between the two sides of the Inner Ring Road without travelling to the congested Korattur North junction.
The proposed service roads will measure between 354 metres and 424 metres, including 75-metre sections passing beneath the railway span. Their design provides more than 5.5 metres of vertical clearance below the railway girders. Continuous footpaths are also planned as part of the project to improve pedestrian safety along the corridor.
The improved connections are expected to benefit vehicles travelling to the proposed Greater Chennai Corporation amusement park at Villivakkam tank, which currently need to reach the Korattur North signal to make a U-turn. The corridor also includes industrial units such as Wheels India, Lucas TVS and Sundaram Clayton, whose freight movement could gain from the wider carriageway and reduced turning delays.
The next key milestone is completion of the railway widening work. The Highways Department has indicated that the remaining road works and opening of the widened carriageway will follow the completion of that portion of the project.
