NE INFRASTRUCTURE BUREAU
CHENNAI MAR 11
A landmark infrastructure project poised to reshape Chennai’s logistics landscape has gained strong momentum, with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) confirming that the 20.9-km, four-lane double-tier elevated corridor between Chennai Port and Maduravoyal is progressing rapidly and is scheduled for completion by November 2027.
#Chennai port double decker expressway construction in full swing. Pre cast concrete getting ready. Expected to complete by end of 2027 https://t.co/39pXtIFScR
— H (@HariraamTrajan) March 10, 2026
The ambitious project, being built at a cost of over ₹3,500 crore, was originally launched in 2010, but construction was halted in 2016. It was revived in 2023 following requests from the Government of Tamil Nadu and Chennai Port authorities, based on recommendations from a technical committee.
- ₹3,500-crore elevated expressway to link Chennai Port with Maduravoyal across 20.9 km
- Two-level design to separate city traffic and port-bound freight, easing congestion along the Cooum corridor
- Project revival and advanced construction technology set to boost Chennai Port’s cargo capacity fourfold
Designed as a two-level elevated corridor, the project aims to streamline traffic flow by segregating city commuters from heavy port-bound cargo vehicles, thereby reducing congestion along the busy Cooum River corridor between the beach and Koyambedu.
The lower tier of the corridor will cater exclusively to local city traffic, featuring 13 strategically placed ramps that will improve connectivity and ease congestion on surface roads. Key entry and exit points are planned at Sivananda Salai, College Road, Spur Tank Road and Koyambedu.
The upper tier, meanwhile, will function as a dedicated freight corridor, enabling heavy vehicles and container trucks to travel directly to Chennai Port Gate-10 without entering city traffic. Once operational, the corridor is expected to provide seamless 24-hour highway connectivity to the port, significantly strengthening logistics efficiency.
The project also incorporates state-of-the-art cable-stayed bridges at major junctions, including the iconic Napier Bridge, adding engineering sophistication to the corridor’s design.
Upon completion, the corridor is projected to dramatically enhance Chennai Port’s cargo-handling capacity, increasing throughput from the current 53 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to nearly 200 MTPA by 2047.
Explaining the revised cost and design changes, Virender Sambyal, Regional Officer, NHAI – Chennai, said:
“While the bridge was initially planned as a single-tier structure, it was comprehensively upgraded to a double-tier corridor following requests from the State Government. The integration of 13 new ramps for city traffic, crucial design modifications, and the addition of advanced cable-stayed bridges were the primary factors contributing to the revised project cost.”
Highlighting the modern construction approach adopted for the project, Shivam Sharma, Project Director, NHAI – PIU, Chennai, said large casting yards are being used to speed up construction.
“Massive casting yards—including the 80-acre facility at EVP Film City—are being utilized to manufacture more than 500 pre-cast concrete bridge segments per month in advance.”
He further explained that once the pier structures are erected, the pre-cast segments will be installed using launching girders, eliminating the need to work directly in the riverbed.
“This strategic approach ensures that construction activities will continue seamlessly 365 days a year, entirely avoiding any weather-related interruptions during the monsoon season.”
Sharma also noted that launching operations are expected to commence within 15 days, marking the next phase of the corridor’s construction.
Providing an update on progress at the site, Sambyal said construction teams are currently working 11 hours daily (five hours during the day and six hours at night) with support from the traffic police.
“A request has been made to the state authorities and the Police Commissioner to extend these working shifts to 16 hours a day.”
Officials also highlighted broader regional infrastructure progress, noting that construction of the remaining packages of the 262-km Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway in Tamil Nadu is advancing steadily.
Over the past decade, NHAI has invested more than ₹60,000 crore to strengthen highway infrastructure across Tamil Nadu. Currently, projects worth ₹40,000 crore are under active implementation, while Detailed Project Reports for future projects worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore have already been prepared to accelerate the state’s economic growth.
