The 10-lane Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPRR) project, the third and outermost circumferential highway encircling the city, is progressing rapidly and has now entered a crucial phase as the final section is set to be tendered out soon. The completion of this Rs 15,000-crore project will bring numerous benefits to the city and its residents.
The entire 133-kilometer peripheral ring road will be access-controlled with limited entry and exit points, allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Additionally, the project includes two-lane service roads on both sides, providing convenience to residents. Furthermore, 55 vehicular underpasses have been planned to facilitate the movement of local residents across the highway.
Funding for the project comes from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC). With the completion of this project, heavy vehicles entering Chennai from other districts in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka will no longer congest the existing ring roads. This will effectively decongest city roads and enhance connectivity to Ennore and Kattupalli ports. Additionally, residents of suburban and periurban areas will have easier access to destinations like Singaperumalkoil, Thiruvallur, Sriperumbudur, Mamallapuram, and Ennore.
The impact of the CPRR on daily commutes is expected to be significant. For instance, individuals residing in Guduvanchery on the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road currently have to travel approximately 50 kilometers to reach Thiruvallur, a journey that takes at least an hour. However, with the implementation of the CPRR, this travel time will reduce to less than 35 minutes.
G. Ganesh, a resident-activist from Singaperumalkoil, expressed his support for the project, highlighting the growing traffic congestion on GST and Outer Ring Road. However, his only concern lies with the toll rates that will be imposed.
The Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) officials stated that the implementation of GPS-based toll collection on national highways across the country may address this concern in the future. This technology is expected to streamline toll collection processes, putting an end to the issues faced by those residing along the Chennai Outer Ring Road.
Construction works for the CPRR are already underway on sections such as Ennore-Thatchur and Thiruvallur Bypass Road, with renowned companies like Tata Projects and L&T leading the efforts. These stretches will include Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) with incident detection systems, enhancing the safety and efficiency of the road network. An upcoming control center near Thatchur will play a crucial role in monitoring and coordinating activities, alerting authorities in case of accidents or congestion. Variable message sign (VMS) boards installed at multiple locations will display traffic updates, informing drivers about potential delays and estimated travel times.
The completion of the CPRR project brings much-anticipated relief to Chennai’s transportation infrastructure. It promises to alleviate congestion on existing roads, improve connectivity to vital ports, and enhance accessibility for residents in various regions. While concerns about toll rates remain, the implementation of GPS-based toll collection offers hope for a smoother tolling process in the future. As construction progresses and the final section is tendered out, the city eagerly awaits the completion of this transformative project.
Please note: This article has been generated using AI language model and slight refinements have been made to match the provided guidelines.
