Latest news with #CabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Centre okays four-laning of Marakkanam-Pondy ECR stretch
CHENNAI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a four-lane highway on the Marakkanam-Puducherry stretch (46 km), currently served by two lanes, at a cost of Rs 2,157 crore. This marks the final phase in converting the 300-km East Coast Road (ECR) from Thiruvanmiyur to Nagapattinam into a four-lane highway. Once completed, motorists travelling to Nagapattinam and nearby pilgrimage centres such as Velankanni, Karaikkal and delta regions can avoid using the heavily congested Tambaram-Tiruchy NH. It will also remove accident-prone spots and reduce travel time significantly. The newly approved 46-km Marakkanam-Puducherry section will include service roads on both sides and will cost Rs 2,157 crore. The tenders for works are expected to be issued soon. 'The project will provide an alternative route connecting Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, improve access to Cuddalore Port and enhance connectivity to Puducherry,' said an official note. Barring this 46-km stretch, 98 km of the rest of the 254 km of ECR has already been widened to four lanes. This includes the Thiruvanmiyur to Mahabalipuram (41 km) and Poondiyankuppam to Sattanathapuram (57 km) stretches. The remaining sections – Mahabalipuram to Marakkanam (62 km), Puducherry to Poondiyankuppam (38 km), and Sattanathapuram to Nagapattinam (56 km) – are currently being widened from two to four lanes. While the 38-km Puducherry-Poondiyankuppam stretch is expected to be completed within two months, the other two are expected to become operational by the end of 2026.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Union Cabinet approves ₹2,157 crore highway expansion in Tamil Nadu
The Union cabinet on Friday approved a 46-kilometre (km) National Highway project in Tamil Nadu between Marakkanam and Puducherry at a cost of Rs 2,157 crore. 'Upon completion, the Marakkanam–Puducherry section will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, strengthening connectivity between major religious and economic centres, boosting tourism to Puducherry, and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development,' the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs said in a statement. The project will be developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode — this involves the authority paying 40 per cent of the cost upfront to the developer, with the remaining being paid in annuities. Currently, connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram and Nagapattinam is dependent on the existing two-lane National Highway 332A (NH-332A) and associated State Highways, which experience significant congestion due to high traffic volumes, especially in densely populated stretches and key towns along the corridor, the cabinet said. The government expects that the four-laning will decongest the existing corridor, improve safety, and cater to the mobility needs of rapidly growing towns such as Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram and Nagapattinam. The upgraded corridor will also enhance multi-modal integration by connecting with two railway stations (Puducherry, Chinnababusamudram), two airports (Chennai, Puducherry), and one minor port (Cuddalore), thereby facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers across the region. The average daily traffic in 2024–25 on the highway was estimated at 17,800 passenger car units. The project will also generate approximately 800,000 person-days of direct and 1 million person-days of indirect employment, and will open new avenues of growth, development and prosperity in surrounding regions, according to the statement.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Cabinet approves construction of 4-lane Marakkanam–Puducherry (NH-332A) on HAM mode
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 8, 2025) approved the construction of the 4-lane wide, 46-km long Marakkanam to Puducherry stretch of the East Coast Road in the State. Of the 45 km, 34.7 km would be a bypass constructed for Puducherry. It would be a Greenfield, access-controlled one. The annual average daily traffic in FY-25 is estimated at 17,800 Passenger Car Units (PCU). The project, that will be part of the Chennai–Puducherry–Nagapattinam-Tuticorin-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, will be developed on hybrid annuity mode (HAM) at a total capital cost of ₹2,157 crore. The total civil cost of the project would be ₹1,118 crore and land acquisition will be ₹442 crore, said a press release. Currently, connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram and Nagapattinam is dependent on the existing two-lane wide National Highway 332A (NH-332A) and associated State Highways, which experience significant congestion due to high traffic volumes, especially in densely populated stretches and key towns along the corridor. The project alignment integrates with two major National Highways (NH-32, NH-332) and two State Highways (SH-136, SH-203), and will enhance multi-modal integration by connecting with two railway stations (Puducherry and Chinnababusamudram), two airports (Chennai, Puducherry), and one minor port at Cuddalore, the release further said.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Cabinet approves 4-lane Marakkanam-Puducherry road project at Rs 2,157 cr
New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved construction of 46-km long 4-lane Marakkanam-Puducherry road project in Tamil Nadu. Addressing a press conference, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project will be developed on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a total capital cost of Rs 2,157 crore. Currently, connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry Viluppuram and Nagapattinam is dependent on existing 2-lane National Highway 332A (NH-332A) and associated state highways, which experience significant congestion due to high traffic volumes, especially in densely populated stretches and key towns along the corridor. To address these challenges, the Minister said the project will upgrade approximately 46 km of NH-332A from Marakkanam to Puducherry to a 4-lane configuration. This will decongest the existing corridor, improve safety and cater to the mobility needs of rapidly growing towns such as Chennai, Puducherry Viluppuram and Nagapattinam. The project alignment integrates with two major National Highways (NH-32, NH-332) and two State Highways (SH-136, SH-203), providing seamless connectivity to key economic, social, and logistics nodes across Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the upgraded corridor will enhance multi-modal integration by connecting with two Railway Stations (Puducherry, Chinnababusamudram), two airports (Chennai, Puducherry), and one minor port (Cuddalore) thereby facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers across the region. Upon completion, the Marakkanam-Puducherry section will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, strengthening connectivity between major religious and economic centers, boosting tourism to Puducherry, and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development. The project will also generate approximately eight lakh person-days of direct and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment, and will open new avenues of growth, development and prosperity in surrounding regions. UNI RBE PRS
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Highway push: Cabinet okays Rs 2,157 crore upgrade of Marakkanam–Puducherry route; project to ease travel and create 18 lakh jobs
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved the construction of a four-lane highway between Marakkanam and Puducherry in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 2,157 crore, aiming to ease congestion and support the growing travel and trade demands in the region. The 46-km stretch of NH-332A will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), according to a decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Currently, connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram and Nagapattinam depends on a two-lane configuration of NH-332A and nearby state highways, which face high congestion—especially in densely populated stretches and key towns. The project will upgrade the highway to four lanes, aiming to reduce bottlenecks, enhance safety, and serve the mobility needs of fast-expanding urban centres. The new alignment will integrate with two National Highways (NH-32 and NH-332) and two State Highways (SH-136 and SH-203), offering seamless links to major logistics, economic and social hubs across Tamil Nadu. The upgraded corridor will also support multi-modal connectivity by linking two railway stations (Puducherry and Chinnababusamudram), two airports (Chennai and Puducherry), and one minor port (Cuddalore). Officials said this would significantly speed up passenger and freight movement in the region. Once operational, the highway is expected to spur regional economic growth by strengthening links between key religious and commercial centres, boosting tourism in Puducherry, and opening up new avenues for trade and industry. The construction is projected to generate about 8 lakh person-days of direct employment and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment, the government said, adding that the project will 'open new avenues of growth, development and prosperity in surrounding regions.' Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
