NHAI looks to complete key project.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a fresh estimate for completing the widening of the Chennai-Tirupati Road, including the formation of a bypass for Tiruvallur. The concessionaire could not finish the ₹571-crore project on the 125.5-km-long stretch.

Official sources in the NHAI said it had taken over toll collection.

“The concessionaire was suspended since it did not take up any work. The repair of potholes on the Tamil Nadu side is being taken up on a war footing,” an official said.

Meanwhile, work to construct bridges at Narayanapuram and Pattaraiperumbudur has started on the road that runs through Tiruvallur, Tirutani, Nagari and Puthur.

S. Vijayaraghavan, a resident of Cuddalore, who travelled to Bengaluru via Tirutani recently, questioned the need for the collection of toll for the badly maintained road road between Tiruvallur and Tirutani. “The pre-paid RFID card did not work at the plaza and the attendant was very rude to us. He asked me to pay in cash or go back. After a few minutes, I was allowed to pass,” he said.

Apart from this road, motorists also take the Periyapalayam-Uthukottai-Puthur or Naidupet-Kalahasti routes. The latter is scenic, but passes through towns and is therefore slow.

In the Periyapalayam route, the road till Uthukottai is bad and needs improvement, said K. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Janapammachatram.

THE HINDU