Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, along with Lt. Governor Shri K. Kailashnathan and CM Shri N. Rangaswamy, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for three major National Highway projects in Puducherry worth over ₹2,000 crore. The projects aim to ease traffic, enhance road safety, and strengthen connectivity.
Key Projects:
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4 km elevated corridor between Indira Gandhi Square and Rajiv Gandhi Square on NH-32.
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14 km improvement of ECR Road (NH-332A).
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38 km four-lane Puducherry–Poondiyankuppam section of NH-32.
These initiatives are expected to reduce urban travel time from 35 minutes to 10 minutes, decongest town areas, and benefit pilgrims and tourists visiting temples and destinations such as Auroville and Pichavaram. Motorists travelling towards Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, and Nagapattinam will save around 50 minutes.
Infrastructure & Sustainability Highlights:
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Use of 80 lakh tonnes of municipal waste in road construction to reduce environmental impact.
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Creation of lakes along highways for water conservation.
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Promotion of electric mobility, ethanol, and alternative fuels to cut logistics costs and enhance export competitiveness.
New Projects Announced:
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Four-lane elevated corridor (3 km): Natesan Nagar to Marapalam Junction & Ariyankuppam–Mullodai (13.5 km) – ₹650 crore.
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Four-lane Marakkanam–Puducherry (46 km) – ₹2,200 crore.
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Six-lane elevated corridor, Madurai–Sriperumbudur (8 km) – ₹1,600 crore.
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NH 32 strengthening, Karaikal (22 km) – ₹60 crore.
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Six-lane elevated corridor, KCBT Bus Terminal–Mahindra City, Chengalpattu – ₹3,000 crore.
Overall Vision:
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Puducherry to get ₹25,000 crore worth of NH projects; 85 km completed, 200 km ongoing, 103 km in pipeline.
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₹100 crore allocated under Setu Bandhan Scheme for small bridges.
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Focus on transparency, timeliness, and zero-tolerance for corruption or poor workmanship.
Shri Gadkari emphasized that good infrastructure drives national prosperity, highlighting India’s achievements in logistics, automobile manufacturing, and sustainable transport solutions under PM Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership.
