Residents want NHAI to take elevated corridor between Madhavaram junction and Nallur toll plaza

Residents of Redhills, Ambattur, Puzhal, Gummidipoondi and their surrounding areas have renewed their demands for the construction of an elevated corridor from Nallur toll plaza to Madhavaram junction. This comes on the heels of Minister of State for Roads Aadhav Arjun submitting a memorandum containing a list of projects to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The stretch of road is currently under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had earlier planned to build an elevated corridor along the median. However, it was later decided to hand over the stretch back to state highways as there are residential and commercial buildings on both sides of the road and land acquisition would be too costly.

Social activist S. Suresh Babu said an elevated corridor was needed to improve connectivity to residential and industrial areas nearby. “There are many container freight stations, slipways, industrial and small units, mechanic sheds and residential areas from where vehicles take this road. So this important corridor carries around 1.50 lakh vehicles daily. If an elevated corridor comes up, heavy vehicles will take it and local traffic will not be disrupted,” he said.

K. Suklaprakash, a resident of Gummidipoondi, said elevated corridors were being constructed from Maduravoyal to Sriperumbudur and Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi. “NHAI must give up its proposal to return the road to state highways. The Padi to Thiruninravur stretch was handed over in a similar manner 20 years ago. This road is yet to be widened despite many efforts. Traders are constantly protesting,” he said.

Advocate VS Suresh said that many accidents happen quite frequently on the road as it connects the city to Andhra Pradesh. The traffic is increasing day by day. In such a situation handing over to the state government is a bad idea. “Road widening and de-blocking needs to be put on a war footing to avoid accidents and loss of life. Truck parking spaces must be created so that they do not take up space on service lanes. The elevated corridor will ensure segregation of fast moving traffic. A full-fledged study of the road must also be done,” he suggested.

Published – 10 June 2026 05:30 IST