Chennai-Bengaluru Highway Expansion Causes Severe Traffic Congestion

Motorists and the public are facing severe traffic congestion on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway due to ongoing road widening and rehabilitation works.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began the project around a decade ago to widen the existing four-lane highway into a six-lane road, following a significant increase in the number of vehicles using the Chennai-Bengaluru route.

The 93-km stretch from Maduravoyal to Walajapet has faced delays due to difficulties in removing encroachments, acquiring land and providing compensation to landowners. As a result, the highway expansion and road improvement works have continued for several years beyond the original schedule.

Traffic Jams Between Sriperumbudur and Sunguvarchatram

Construction of around 18 flyovers between Maduravoyal and Walajapet has further contributed to traffic congestion.

In particular, flyover construction at two locations near Mambakkam, close to Sriperumbudur, has resulted in vehicles being diverted to service roads.

The service roads have also been damaged by recent rains, making traffic movement more difficult. The Sunguvarchatram-Sriperumbudur stretch, covering around 10 km, is experiencing heavy congestion on both sides of the highway.

Motorists are reportedly spending several hours to cover the 10-km stretch, affecting factory workers, school and college students, commuters and other road users.

Public Seeks Faster Road Works

Residents and motorists have urged the authorities to speed up the Chennai-Bengaluru highway expansion and road repair works. They have also requested that traffic police personnel be deployed at key locations to regulate traffic and reduce congestion.