State Highways begins second phase of widening of Tiruvannamalai - Avalurpet Main Road

The State Highways Department has commenced the 2nd signifier of widening the existing two-lane Tiruvannamalai–Avalurpet Main Road (SH-130B) into a four-lane agelong to forestall accidents connected the cardinal arterial route.

Officials said the ongoing Phase I covers a 1.3-km agelong adjacent the temple town, astatine a outgo of ₹18 crore. The enactment includes the operation of six culverts, stormwater drains, LED streetlights, and a median with information features specified arsenic reflectors, signage, and blinkers. “The archetypal signifier volition beryllium completed by January, portion the 2nd signifier is scheduled for completion by March 2026. Once widened, the roadworthy volition supply the shortest way for devotees travelling from Tiruvannamalai to Kancheepuram, Tindivanam, and Chennai,” K. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer, State Highways, told The Hindu.

Recently, Minister for Public Works E.V. Velu laid the instauration chromatic for the 2nd phase, accompanied by Collector K. Tharpagaraj, M. Murali, Superintending Engineer, and P. Gnanavel, Divisional Engineer, State Highways, Tiruvannamalai. “The widened agelong volition assistance forestall accidents, particularly astatine night, arsenic galore tourer vans and buses ply connected this pilgrim route,” said K. Sethu, a motorist.

Funded nether the Chief Minister’s Road Development Plan (CMRDP) 2024–25, the 2nd signifier volition beryllium taken up astatine a outgo of ₹64 crore. The enactment involves widening the roadworthy to 20 metres (60 feet), with a factual median, stormwater drains, reflectors, and signage.

As portion of the project, 15 culverts and a insignificant span volition beryllium constructed. Of the full 16 km stretch, widening successful 2 phases volition screen 9.3 km, wherever capable authorities onshore is disposable connected some sides. Much of the enactment falls wrong Chetpet, Cheyyar, and Vandavasi towns, which are person to Kancheepuram district.

As the roadworthy serves arsenic a cardinal pilgrim way to Tirupati, Puducherry, Kancheepuram, and Melmaruvathur, further autobus bays volition beryllium created to facilitate halts for municipality and mofussil buses catering to section commuters and long-distance travellers.

Currently, implicit 1 lakh vehicles—mostly from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh—use the agelong regular to question to confederate districts. To compensate for the removal of 360 trees and heighten greenish cover, astir 4,000 saplings of autochthonal taxon volition beryllium planted on some sides of the road.