Puducherry Marakkanam highway expansion to four lanes approved
The Union Cabinet has cleared a major infrastructure upgrade for the East Coast Road (ECR) with the approval to four-lane the 46-km Marakkanam–Puducherry section of National Highway-332A. The ₹2,157 crore project, part of the Chennai–Puducherry–Nagapattinam corridor, aims to reduce travel time by nearly 40 per cent while diverting heavy vehicles away from Puducherry’s city limits.
Officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said the decision addresses a long-standing bottleneck on the otherwise upgraded corridor. The Marakkanam–Puducherry stretch was the only remaining two-lane section, slowing traffic flow on one of Tamil Nadu’s most scenic but commercially significant coastal routes.
Rather than widening the existing 34.1-km road, the government has opted for a bypass alignment, adding 12 km to the route. The decision was driven by feasibility challenges, as the current alignment passes through eight dense habitations and busy commercial areas, making land acquisition costly and time-consuming. The new plan includes a 35-km bypass and the upgradation of the remaining 11 km of existing road to four lanes. By rerouting heavy commercial traffic around Puducherry, the bypass is expected to improve road safety, cut congestion in the city, and allow uninterrupted travel for through-traffic. According to MoRTH’s estimates, average vehicle speeds on the corridor will double, reducing journey times between Marakkanam and Puducherry from one hour to just over half an hour.
The project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), combining public and private sector participation to accelerate completion while ensuring quality control. It forms the third package of the Mahabalipuram–Puducherry upgrade under Bharatmala Pariyojna, with the other two packages currently under construction. Traffic surveys in October 2024 recorded daily volumes of nearly 17,800 Passenger Car Units (PCUs), exceeding thresholds for a two-lane highway and signalling urgent need for expansion. With tourism, trade, and commuter traffic on the rise, the ECR has become a vital transport spine for southern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Officials noted that the bypass alignment will also enable better environmental management by reducing vehicular emissions within Puducherry’s urban core, aligning with sustainable mobility goals. By improving traffic flow and cutting idle time, the project is expected to lower fuel consumption, benefiting both commuters and the environment. Once completed, the four-lane section is expected to integrate seamlessly with the wider coastal highway network, supporting regional economic growth, boosting tourism potential, and creating a safer and faster travel experience.
