Driving on Nagapattinam–Thiruthuraipoondi road becomes a nightmare those visiting Velankanni

Tourists and pilgrims visiting Velankanni have expressed frustration over the poor condition of the Nagapattinam–Velankanni–Thiruthuraipoondi road, a stretch of National Highway No. 32 that connects Chennai and Kanniyakumari

Tourists and pilgrims visiting Velankanni have expressed frustration over the poor condition of the Nagapattinam–Velankanni–Thiruthuraipoondi road, a stretch of National Highway No. 32 that connects Chennai and Kanniyakumari. Despite being an important route for devotees visiting the Velankanni Basilica, the road remains in disrepair, leading to traffic congestion.

Though minor patchwork was recently completed on the Nagapattinam–Velankanni stretch, activists point out that the overall road condition remains poor, resulting in frequent repairs.

The road was laid as a two-lane stretch by the State Highways Department in 2008 but was later brought under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) two years ago. However, no major improvementd had been made, leading to narrow carriageways and uneven road surfaces that make it difficult for tourist buses and vehicles to pass smoothly.

Speaking about the issue, Nagapattinam District Consumer Protection and Passenger Association secretary Aravind Kumar G., said: “This highway, which runs from Puthur Roundabout in Nagapattinam to Thiruthuraipoondi in Tiruvarur district, is crucial for tourist movement. However, due to the poor road quality, visitors heading to Velankanni Church, which receives thousands of pilgrims every week, struggle with congestion and damaged surfaces.”

Repeated grievances and petitions have been submitted seeking the widening and improvement of the road, following which a tender worth ₹77 crore was sanctioned to upgrade a 149-km stretch from Puthur Roundabout in Nagapattinam to Kattumavadi in Pudukkottai. However, contractual disputes and legal issues have delayed the work.

NHAI official sources pointed to minor patchwork repairs that were recently completed on the Nagapattinam–Velankanni stretch, particularly in Paravai and Pappakovil areas. “We expect road improvement work to begin soon but the tender process is still incomplete,” an official said.

Additionally, there is a proposal to convert the Nagapattinam–Thoothukudi road into a four-lane highway. However, this project is still in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage and further timeline has not been provided for its execution.