Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Announces Chennai-Nagapattinam Highway to be 4-Laned by 2026
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that the ambitious Chennai–Nagapattinam highway widening project is on track for completion by 2026.
The project, which involves converting the East Coast Road (ECR) from a two-lane to a four-lane highway, is a crucial infrastructure development for Tamil Nadu.
In a recent statement, the minister provided an update on the progress of the multi-phase project, which is estimated to cost over Rs 11,687 crore.
The total project length is 308.6 km, and as of June 30, 2025, just over 50% of the physical work has been completed.
While some stretches, such as the Poondiyankuppam–Sattanathapuram segment, have been completed, others have faced delays due to a number of challenges.
These include land acquisition issues, local protests demanding additional crossing structures, and a shortage of construction materials like pond ash.
The ministry has rescheduled the completion dates for several key sections, including the Mamallapuram–Mugaiyur and Mugaiyur–Marakkanam stretches, to May 2026.
Despite the setbacks, Gadkari expressed confidence that the project will be finished within the revised timeline, significantly reducing travel time, easing traffic congestion, and boosting the local economy along the East Coast.