Chennai, May 27:
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has approved a major infrastructure project worth ₹1,427.61 crore for the construction of a four-lane bypass in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The 14.9-km-long bypass will be developed along the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur stretch of National Highway 83, aiming to ease congestion and improve regional connectivity.
The project also includes the construction of two additional road overbridges on National Highways 129A and National Highways 134A. Officials said the initiative is part of a broader push to upgrade transport infrastructure and support economic growth in the region.
According to Gadkari, the bypass will significantly enhance connectivity between key industrial hubs such as Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore, as well as port towns like Karaikal and Nagapattinam. The improved road network is expected to facilitate smoother movement of goods and passengers, thereby boosting trade and economic activity.
The proposed alignment of the bypass will begin near the Adiyakkamangalam–Thandalai area and pass through several villages, including Athipuliyur, Andipalayam, Kidaramkondan, Pallivaramangalam, Perumpugalur, Ilavangarkudi, and Anaivadapathi Colony.
Once completed, the bypass is expected to decongest traffic within Tiruvarur town, reducing travel time by up to 15 minutes. It will also enhance road safety by diverting heavy vehicular traffic away from densely populated and commercially active areas.
The project will further improve connectivity with State Highways 23 and 65 and provide better access to the well-known Thyagaraja Swamy Temple, a prominent religious and cultural landmark in the region.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had floated tenders for the project in August 2025 under the hybrid annuity model on a design, build, operate, and transfer basis. The bids are expected to be opened in June this year.
Although the bypass was initially planned as part of the Thanjavur–Nagapattinam highway strengthening project, it could not be executed earlier due to delays in land acquisition. The broader highway project itself had faced setbacks, including the original contractor abandoning work midway.
Subsequently, NHAI awarded a fresh contract to complete the 65.37-km stretch at a revised cost of ₹340.63 crore. The work has since been completed, paving the way for the long-pending bypass project to finally move forward.