NHAI to open elevated corridor on Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will officially open the elevated corridor and the underpass underneath on the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway (NH-48) in Arcot town to the public this week.

NHAI officials, who carried out the study, said that the ₹22-crore underpass and elevated corridor near the tri-junction of the section will help ease traffic on the busy route. It is one of the ‘black spots’ within the boundaries of Ranipet district.

“Within a day or two, vehicles, including government buses and school vans, will be allowed to use the newly constructed elevated corridor. Likewise, motorists can also use the new underpass under the corridor to take ‘U’ turns,” said a senior police officer.

Black spots are accident prone areas identified based on reports submitted by the district police to the Collector at regular intervals. According to the plan, the new two-lane elevated corridor is 15 meters wide and vehicles coming from Chennai can use the facility, while motorists coming from Bengaluru have to use the existing carriageway in the area.

“The new underpass will help in easy access to the local market, schools, hospitals and banks. Before this, residents have to travel at least 1.5 km to reach the other side of the road,” said driver B. Sukumar.

The new underpass under the elevated corridor is 4.5 meters high and 20 meters wide. It will accommodate two-wheelers, cars and buses. Such an arrangement will help reduce the total number of ‘U-turn’ turning points available to prevent accidents. There are several public schools, health centres, banks, bus terminals and government offices in the area.

Currently, black lining of the carriageway in the elevated corridor is being done to ensure equal space for use, NHAI officials said. LED street lighting will be installed on both sides of the corridor in the coming days. Reflectors, signs, flashing lights and other road safety measures are also being installed.

According to the norms, each vehicle underpass on the highway will be constructed at an average distance of 1.5 km to ensure safe passage. You may also encounter such facilities at important intersections and at crowded points such as food courts on the highway. Currently, there are 19 such underpasses between Walajah and Krishnagiri on the 148-kilometer highway between Krishnagiri and Walajapet (Ranipet district), NHAI officials said.