The Tamil Nadu State Highways Department has commenced a significant widening project at the Padi Rail Overbridge on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai to alleviate a major traffic bottleneck. Costing ₹139 crore, the project aims to transform the existing three-lane bridge into a dual five-lane structure and expand the narrow approach roads towards Padi, a notorious congestion point for commuters between north and south Chennai.
As part of this initiative, the department will conduct widening activities and structural enhancements within its land boundaries, including road construction and girder installations. The railway track section of the bridge will be handled by Southern Railway, which will procure necessary girders from its Arakkonam yard.
The project also entails relocating certain electrical lines to facilitate construction operations. Upon completion, the bridge’s corridor width will increase significantly from the current 27 meters to approximately 53 meters, featuring five lanes in each direction alongside pedestrian footpaths on both sides. Authorities anticipate that this expansion will enhance traffic flow and safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
The approach roads and nearby sections are also being widened to five lanes with a central median, a measure aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing accidents along the corridor. Scheduled for completion by April, the project targets the Padi ROB, a critical congestion point on the Inner Ring Road located between Villivakkam and Korattur railway stations.
In addition to the bridge widening, the highways department is constructing two U-shaped service roads beneath the Villivakkam ROB at an estimated cost of ₹14 crore. These 7.5-meter-wide roads will enable motorists to make U-turns towards North Korattur and Padi without entering the busy intersection, thereby enhancing traffic circulation in the area.
Meanwhile, other sections of the Inner Ring Road are also undergoing expansion as part of separate projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
