NHAI seeks 885.5 hectares for Thatchur-Chittoor 6-lane highway

The first notification of the project is expected to be out next week, the Project Director G Athipathi said.

The project, proposed to be built under the Bharatmala PariYojana, will cover a distance of 126.550 km cutting through Pulikundram reserve forest in Red Hills, Tiruvallur.

For this purpose, a total of 885.5 hectares will be acquired, which include 525 hectares in Andhra Pradesh and 360.5 hectares in Tamil Nadu. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,197.56 crore.

The first stage of the project is completed with the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry submitted the Environment Impact Assessment report.

The new greenfield highway is said to benefit Kamarajar Port and Kattupalli, and also provide direct port connectivity to Bengaluru and Chittoor.

The proposed Chennai-Kurnool economic corridor starts in Chennai and terminates in Kurnool, passing through Puttur, Renigunta, Kadapa and Nandyal.

The proposed project will pass through 137 villages, cross three rivers - Ponnai, Nagari and Aranai - and few minor streams. Besides, 27 ponds/check dams fall along the project road, of which some will be directly impacted.

The highway will cover the Ponneri smart city and Mahindra World City.

The air quality will be improved as it provides seamless connectivity to vital roads in the city.

It will also provide seamless connectivity with the SEZs and other industrial estates. The total distance aligned will be shortened by 30 km saving the vehicle operating cost.