East Tambaram bypass project gains pace

Chennai, May 12:

Chennai is set to witness significant traffic relief as the long-pending East Tambaram Bypass Road project has regained momentum. The infrastructure initiative is expected to ease heavy congestion in key southern suburban areas such as Perungalathur and Tambaram, which currently face severe traffic bottlenecks due to increasing vehicular movement from southern districts.

The proposed bypass road aims to divert heavy vehicles away from crowded city roads, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing travel time for daily commuters. By providing an alternative route, the project is expected to decongest major arterial stretches and enhance overall road efficiency in South Chennai.

The new corridor will be developed as a six-lane bypass road spanning nearly 9 kilometres. It will begin near the old Peerkankaranai police station on GST Road and pass through Sadhanandapuram, Alapakkam, Nedunkundram, Thiruvanchery, Rajakilpakkam and Selaiyur before connecting to the Tambaram–Velachery Road. This alignment is expected to provide seamless connectivity to South Chennai and key IT corridor regions.

As part of the project, a major six-lane flyover is currently under construction from Agaram Then Road Ambedkar Nagar Junction to Velachery Road via Rajakilpakkam Lake. The flyover will have a length of 1,442 metres and a width of 23 metres, with an estimated cost of ₹208.31 crore. Officials have set a completion timeline of 18 months. To facilitate the construction, around 126 buildings near Rajakilpakkam Lake have already been demolished, and foundation work is underway.

Once completed, the East Tambaram Bypass Road is expected to significantly reduce congestion in Perungalathur and Tambaram, divert heavy vehicles away from city roads, and improve connectivity to Velachery and Chennai’s IT corridors. The project is also likely to cut down travel time for commuters and strengthen suburban transport infrastructure.

However, certain delays persist due to pending approvals involving 4.46 hectares of forest department land and the allocation of 8.92 hectares of alternate land. Authorities are working to resolve these issues to ensure timely completion of the project. Officials believe that once operational, the bypass will play a crucial role in transforming traffic movement across Chennai’s southern corridor.