March 14, 2026The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has identified 100 km of congested arterial roads for widening to improve traffic flow and safety, according to a March 2026 report. Key focus areas include the Padi-Thiruninravur stretch, Velachery-Tambaram, and Taramani links, with several roads set to increase in width by 50%
Work to widen arterial roads in various congested parts of the city is set to begin soon. At a meeting of the First Working Group for Traffic Regulations and Management Framework of the State Planning Commission on Tuesday, civic agencies identified 100 km of roads in Chennai for widening with the aim of easing traffic congestion and improving road safety.
In the first meeting, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) officials suggested strengthening and widening of the stretch from Padi flyover near Saravana Stores to Thiruninravur, improving connectivity between Outer Ring Road and areas such as Anna Nagar. “The width of the stretch will increase by 50%,” said an official. Similarly, stretches connecting Velachery with Tambaram and Taramani are expected to be widened. Traffic in areas such as Pammal is expected to ease after some of the proposals are implemented
Key Details of Chennai Road Widening Projects (2025–2026)
100 km Strategic Widening: CUMTA and civic agencies are targeting bottleneck areas to improve connectivity, especially between the Outer Ring Road and central areas like Anna Nagar.
CTH Road (Padi-Thiruninravur): The 22-km Chennai-Tiruttani High (CTH) Road is being widened from four to six lanes (100-foot width) to support Metro Rail integration.
Sardar Patel Road Widening: The 2.5 km stretch from IIT Madras to Chellammal College is being widened to six lanes for ₹48 crore to reduce congestion.
ECR Expansion: The East Coast Road (ECR) is being converted into six lanes between Thiruvanmiyur and Uthandi.
OMR Phase-II: A 25 km stretch of Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) from Siruseri to Mamallapuram is being expanded to six lanes. Velachery to Tambaram/Taramani: Specific stretches connecting these areas are slated for widening to ease traffic in regions like Pammal.
AI Surveillance: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is using AI and drones to map 408 km of roads to identify bottlenecks and encroachments.
These improvements, part of the Chennai Master Plan 2026, aim to enhance urban mobility.
Project Objectives and Features
Congestion Relief: Aims to increase road width by up to 50% on critical corridors.
Safety Upgrades: Includes fixing design gaps for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders under the Chennai-Kanniyakumari Industrial Corridor Project.
Infrastructure Integration: Many projects include the construction of new flyovers, road overbridges (ROBs), and integration with upcoming Metro Rail corridors to provide a seamless transport network.
Economic Corridors: Developments like the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (132.87 km) are also progressing to link major ports and industrial hubs
