Construction of 2 underpasses on Chennai-Tada National Highway to be completed by Jan. 2025
Over 95.75% of the work to widen Chennai-Tada National Highway into a sixlane facility has been completed, and the contractor recently commenced work on the remaining 1.4-km stretch of the road. According to sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the contractor is yet to complete the construction of two structures — a light vehicular underpass (LVUP) and a pedestrian underpass.
The cost of construction of these structures will be ₹295.97 crore, and the work, according to the new terms and conditions, has to be nished by January 2025.
The two approaches at the LVUP have to be completed and both have to be widened to suit the width of the carriageway. “The contractor had earlier raised objections that the rates of materials had gone up, and he could not aord to complete the construction with the old rates. He had sought an increase in the money allocation. The NHAI has now agreed to pay him the dierence in the rates. He has now resumed the work after arriving at a settlement with the NHAI,” sources said.
Recently, the contractor completed the work at the bridge at Karanodai on one lane, and it has been opened to trac.
Land acquisition delays
The delay in connecting the bridge with the other side was caused by issues pertaining to land acquisition.
Baskar, a resident of Janapanchatram, said there had been some relief for vehicle users since the Karanodai
bridge work was completed.
“We used to have trac snarls daily before that. The NHAI should take up relaying work on the entire Chennai-Tada Road and not just repair it in patches. Places, including Kavarapattai and the toll plaza, need eective repairs. Motorists keep complaining that they pay the toll for a damaged road,” he said.