Tamil Nadu Unveils ₹1.37 Lakh Crore Vision 2035 Road Infrastructure Plan

Tamil Nadu has unveiled an ambitious Vision 2035 Road Infrastructure Plan, proposing the development of a 4,543.5-km road network at an estimated cost of ₹1,36,996 crore. At the same time, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to invest more than ₹1 lakh crore in expanding an additional 2,500 km of national highways across the state.

The proposals were presented at the CII Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Summit 2026 on Monday (August 3). The initiative aims to enhance industrial connectivity, improve access to ports and airports, ease traffic congestion in Chennai, and support the growth of Tier-II cities.

According to I. Jeyakumar, Member Secretary and Special Officer of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), the Vision 2035 roadmap has been jointly prepared by NHAI and the Tamil Nadu State Highways Department. The plan includes 144 road corridors covering 4,543.5 km, with investments of ₹84,891 crore from NHAI and ₹52,105 crore from the State Highways Department.

The proposed network features 20 spine corridors, 21 link roads, industrial and coastal connectivity projects, nine airport connectivity projects, dedicated road improvements in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, and transport master plans for several Tier-II cities.

As part of the plan, Chennai will receive 13 new road projects spanning 164 km, with an estimated investment of ₹2,947 crore. Master plans for Coimbatore, Madurai, and Hosur have already been approved, while the Thoothukudi master plan is awaiting approval.

Airport connectivity is another key focus area. The State Highways Department has proposed eight airport connectivity corridors, while NHAI has proposed one additional corridor. Two of the state`s proposed airport links have already been taken up under spur road projects.

NHAI Regional Officer Virender Sambyal stated that 855 km of national highway projects, worth over ₹33,000 crore, are currently under construction in Tamil Nadu. In addition, another 2,500 km of national highways, requiring investments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, are in the pipeline.

Major projects proposed under the roadmap include the Chennai–Trichy–Madurai Greenfield Access-Controlled Corridor, the Maduravoyal–Sriperumbudur Elevated Corridor, six-laning of the Chengalpattu–Tindivanam stretch of NH-32, four-laning of the Nagapattinam–Thoothukudi–Kanyakumari section of NH-32, improved connectivity to Cuddalore Port, and bypass projects in Coimbatore, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli.<.

These large-scale infrastructure investments are expected to strengthen freight movement, improve connectivity to industrial hubs, ports, airports, and logistics corridors, while supporting Tamil Nadu`s manufacturing, export-driven economy, and long-term economic growth.