Motorists put to hardship as work to widen Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway remains pending

Nightmare NH 48 Chennai-Bengaluru road delays due to fly ash shortage, incomplete stretches, and lack of signage. New contractor hired.

Travelling on the NH 48 (formerly NH 4), connecting Chennai with Bengaluru, is frankly a nightmare for motorists. According to sources, the main cause of the delay is the State-run thermal power plants (TPPs) saying they do not have enough fly ash to supply the contractor widening a section of the road between Sriperumbudur and Walajahpet.

Padmapriya of West Mambalam, who used the stretch recently, said while some portions of the road had service lanes, others did not. In some sections that are not in use due to the construction of subways, heavy vehicles can be found parked in the middle of the road. “During peak hours and at night, it is very difficult for cars and other smaller vehicles since we have to fight for space with the larger vehicles,” she said.

The six-laning project, which was started in 2019 and was to have been completed in 2021, was stalled for at least two years due to the TPPs saying fly ash was not available as it had been allocated to cement and brick-making units. Some TPPs had told the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that they could purchase fly ash at ₹205/tonne and also bear the expenses for transporting it, an NHAI source said.

“This is despite a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change circular, dated January 25, 2016, stating that fly ash should be provided free of charge for infrastructure projects. Fly ash is required as filling material for ramps of subways and bridges,” said an engineer associated with the project.

Elumalai, a heavy vehicle driver, said driving on the incomplete stretches made one wonder if the road was indeed an NH. “There are no sign boards or reflectors. Drivers, such as me, manage somehow since we are used to it. We know where the road goes up, where we are supposed to drive, and where we can park. But those who are new to it will find it very difficult to drive, particularly at night,” he said.

The (NHAI) has finally signed the agreement with a new contractor to complete the pending work on the road using earth. The previous contract was foreclosed as the company could not complete the work, including construction of 17 pedestrian subways, on time.

The latest contractor, P and C Projects Pvt. Ltd., will complete the works in 16.82 km of the road from Sriperumbudur to Karaipettai for around ₹360 crore within 21 months. The company, the third one to take up this project, is likely to begin work in February. The company will construct six structures, including two flyovers, and complete the approach ramps of 17 structures.