Highways Department Begins Land Acquisition for CPRR Phase Two

The Tamil Nadu highways department has intensified land acquisition efforts for the second phase of the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPRR) following the completion of the project's first phase. As part of this process, the government has decided to acquire land in Ekkadu Kandigai, directing landowners with objections to submit them in writing to the SIDCO branch office in Ambattur Industrial Estate.

The 133.64-km greenfield, access-controlled six-lane corridor is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 17,958 crore. The first phase of road laying, covering a 26-kilometre stretch from Thatchur to the Thiruvallur bypass road, has been completed.

Designed to allow vehicular speeds of up to 120 kmph, the CPRR will establish direct links between major national highways, including the Chennai-Tiruchi highway, Chennai-Bengaluru expressway, Chennai-Kolkata highway, Chennai-Tirupati highway, and East Coast Road. The corridor aims to bypass core city routes, facilitating smoother movement for through-traffic heading toward Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, northern states, and southern districts.

The overall project is split into five phases: Ennore Harbour (Kattupalli) to Thatchur (25 km), Thatchur to Tiruvallur (26 km), Thiruvallur to Sriperumbudur (24 km), Sriperumbudur to Singaperumalkoil (27 km), and Singaperumalkoil to Mamallapuram Pooncheri (30 km). Sections I to III, spanning approximately 82 km, are being funded with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and OPEC Fund for International Development at an estimated cost of Rs 12,375.59 crore.

Work on the Sriperumbudur to Singaperumalkoil stretch is fully complete except for service lanes, for which land acquisition has commenced. Meanwhile, land acquisition is also underway for the final section from Singaperumalkoil to Mamallapuram.

Once finished, the expressway will feature eight major bridges, seven minor bridges, 15 subways of various sizes, two railway bridges, 76 culverts, four lorry parking areas, and ten bus parking zones. It is expected to ease heavy freight movement to the Ennore and Kattupalli ports, reduce congestion along Poonamallee High Road, Minjur, and Ponneri, and improve connectivity for industrial hubs in Padappai, Oragadam, and Sriperumbudur.