Chennai approves 1250 crore 6 lane elevated highway Poonamallee Maduravoyal
Chennai is poised for a major transport upgrade with the National Highways Authority of India approving a six-lane elevated corridor between Poonamallee and Maduravoyal. Planned at an estimated cost of ₹1,250 crore, the 8.1 km structure is expected to transform connectivity for passenger vehicles and cargo, while also reducing congestion on the city’s busiest western entry point.
The corridor is designed to act as a crucial feeder to Chennai Port, enabling faster evacuation of cargo. At present, the port handles 135 million tonnes per annum but often faces delays due to clogged arterial roads. Officials note that the flyover, when coupled with a proposed 13 km extension linking the Outer Ring Road to Sriperumbudur, could reduce the current entry time into the city from an hour to less than 20 minutes.On average, nearly 90,000 vehicles use the Poonamallee–Maduravoyal stretch every day. The new facility, which will function on a toll-based model, is expected to carry a significant portion of this load, easing pressure on service lanes and ground-level carriageways. The design keeps entry and exit ramps only at the start and end points, which officials believe will help maintain steady vehicle flow and limit traffic interruptions.
Work on the corridor is slated to begin within three months and has a completion window of two and a half years. During construction, NHAI plans to keep about ten lanes of ground-level roads, including service lanes, functional to ensure that traffic disruption remains minimal. However, commuters remain concerned about the long project timeline, urging that work be accelerated to avoid years of uncertainty.
Transport experts argue that while the corridor is a much-needed boost to infrastructure, its success must also be measured by its sustainability. Elevated expressways, they say, should not merely shift congestion but should be integrated with eco-friendly mobility solutions such as electric freight corridors, non-polluting vehicles, and better last-mile connectivity.Local resident associations have also demanded that the corridor be directly integrated with the upcoming Chennai–Bengaluru Expressway at Sriperumbudur, which is currently under development. This, they believe, would maximise the benefit for both passenger traffic and freight logistics once the 262 km expressway becomes operational by 2026.
Parallel to this project, NHAI has initiated other works across Tamil Nadu, including a new four-lane bypass in Thiruvarur and progress on the Chennai–Bengaluru Expressway. Together, these interventions highlight the state’s ambition of modernising highway infrastructure, though concerns remain on whether timelines will keep pace with growing demand.For Chennai, the elevated corridor represents not just an infrastructure investment but also an opportunity to reshape urban mobility in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
