Union Cabinet Approves Rs 2,157 Crore For 46-Km Marakkanam-Puducherry Highway Upgrade Under Hybrid Annuity Mode

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 46 km four-lane stretch between Marakkanam and Puducherry on National Highway 332A in Tamil Nadu.

The project, to be developed on the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), carries a total capital outlay of Rs 2,157 crore.

At present, travel between Chennai, Puducherry, Viluppuram and Nagapattinam relies on the existing two-lane NH-332A and adjoining state highways, which face frequent congestion due to heavy traffic in densely populated stretches and busy towns.

The upgrade will widen the section to four lanes, easing bottlenecks, improving road safety, and meeting the mobility needs of rapidly growing urban and economic hubs along the East Coast.

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The new alignment will connect with major National Highways (NH-32, NH-332) and State Highways (SH-136, SH-203), ensuring seamless links to key logistics and economic centres in Tamil Nadu.

It will also improve multi-modal connectivity by linking two airports, Chennai and Puducherry, two railway stations, Puducherry and Chinnababusamudram, and Cuddalore minor port.

CCEA said the upgraded highway will play a key role in regional growth by strengthening links between major religious and commercial destinations, boosting tourism to Puducherry, and supporting trade, industrial, and fishing clusters.

The project is also expected to create nearly 8 lakh person-days of direct employment and 10 lakh person-days of indirect jobs during construction.

Part of the Chennai-Puducherry-Nagapattinam-Tuticorin-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, the highway will feature a 34.7 km greenfield, access-controlled Puducherry bypass to divert through-traffic.

The corridor will also provide improved access to social and tourism spots, including Arulmigu Manakula Temple and Paradise Beach.

Upon completion, the stretch is expected to handle an estimated 17,800 passenger car units per day, offering faster, safer, and more efficient connectivity along Tamil Nadu’s east coast.

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