In Tamil Nadu, the Centre has sanctioned ₹1,338 crore for an Access-Controlled Highway project on NH-40, spanning 28 km from Walajapet/Ranipet to the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border.
The highway will feature a 4-lane main carriageway with paved shoulders and 2-lane service roads on both sides. A 10-km bypass for Walajapet/Ranipet, 4 major bridges, and 2 railway over-bridges are also planned, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, said a social media post.
The corridor will enhance connectivity between Chennai and cities like Bengaluru, Tirupati, and Vellore. It will stimulate local industries, including leather and small-scale engineering units supporting BHEL.
With a Special Economic Zone in Ranipet set for 2025 completion, the project promises substantial economic growth while ensuring local traffic movement with 2-lane service roads, the minister said.