The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will formally open the newly built elevated corridor and the underpass on the Chennai–Bengaluru Highway (NH-48) in Arcot town this week, marking a major step towards easing congestion along one of the busiest stretches in Ranipet district.

The upcoming launch follows the completion of the ₹22-crore project near the tri-junction on NH-48, a location categorised as a ‘black spot’ due to frequent accidents. With the new corridor and underpass, traffic movement is expected to improve significantly, benefiting thousands of motorists who depend on this arterial route daily.

Project aims to decongest busy junction

NHAI officials said work on the elevated corridor has reached its final stage, with black-topping and safety installations currently underway. Once opened, vehicles coming from Chennai will be able to use the two-lane, 15-metre-wide elevated corridor, while traffic from the Bengaluru side will continue to use the existing carriageway.

“In a day or two, vehicles, including government buses and school vans, will be allowed to use the newly built elevated corridor. Likewise, motorists can also use the new underpass below the corridor to take ‘U’ turns,” a senior police officer said.

The project is expected to ease movement through the tri-junction, which often sees long queues due to merging traffic and frequent crossing by local residents heading to commercial and educational establishments.

Underpass to improve local access

The newly constructed underpass, 4.5 metres high and 20 metres wide, will allow two-wheelers, cars and buses, ensuring seamless movement to the local market, schools, government offices, banks and healthcare facilities. Earlier, residents had to travel at least 1.5 km to reach the opposite side of the highway.

“The new underpass will help with easy access to the local market, schools, hospitals and banks. Prior to it, residents had to travel far for basic access,” said B. Sukumar, a motorist from the area.

Officials added that the underpass will also help reduce the number of ‘U-turn’ points along this accident-prone stretch, improving overall road safety.

Safety, lighting and finishing work underway

NHAI has started installing LED street lights on either side of the elevated corridor. Reflectors, road signage, blinkers and other mandatory safety features are also being put in place.

Black-topping is in progress to ensure the stretch is level and ready for public use. Officials said the finishing work is expected to wrap up shortly.

Part of broader safety plan on NH-48

As per NHAI norms, a vehicular underpass must be built at an interval of 1.5 km to ensure safe crossing. Such structures are also mandated at key intersections and crowded locations, including food joints and commercial hubs.

On the Krishnagiri–Walajapet stretch of NH-48 — a 148-km corridor — 19 vehicular underpasses have already been constructed. The new Arcot underpass is expected to further reduce risks and improve overall traffic flow.

Conclusion

Once operational, the elevated corridor and underpass will help relieve long-standing congestion issues at Arcot’s tri-junction, enhance safety on the high-traffic NH-48 corridor and significantly improve accessibility for local residents. The long-awaited project is likely to bring tangible improvements to both commuters and the surrounding neighbourhood