State Highways begins second phase of widening of Tiruvannamalai – Avalurpet Main Road

The State Highways Department has commenced the second phase of widening the existing two-lane Tiruvannamalai–Avalurpet Main Road (SH-130B) into a four-lane stretch to prevent accidents on the key arterial route.

Officials said the ongoing Phase I covers a 1.3-km stretch near the temple town, at a cost of ₹18 crore. The work includes the construction of six culverts, stormwater drains, LED streetlights, and a median with safety features such as reflectors, signage, and blinkers. “The first phase will be completed by January, while the second phase is scheduled for completion by March 2026. Once widened, the road will provide the shortest route for devotees travelling from Tiruvannamalai to Kancheepuram, Tindivanam, and Chennai,” K. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer, State Highways, told The Hindu.

Recently, Minister for Public Works E.V. Velu laid the foundation stone for the second phase, accompanied by Collector K. Tharpagaraj, M. Murali, Superintending Engineer, and P. Gnanavel, Divisional Engineer, State Highways, Tiruvannamalai. “The widened stretch will help prevent accidents, especially at night, as many tourist vans and buses ply on this pilgrim route,” said K. Sethu, a motorist.

Funded under the Chief Minister’s Road Development Plan (CMRDP) 2024–25, the second phase will be taken up at a cost of ₹64 crore. The work involves widening the road to 20 metres (60 feet), with a concrete median, stormwater drains, reflectors, and signage.

As part of the project, 15 culverts and a minor bridge will be constructed. Of the total 16 km stretch, widening in two phases will cover 9.3 km, where adequate government land is available on both sides. Much of the work falls within Chetpet, Cheyyar, and Vandavasi towns, which are closer to Kancheepuram district.

As the road serves as a key pilgrim route to Tirupati, Puducherry, Kancheepuram, and Melmaruvathur, additional bus bays will be created to facilitate halts for town and mofussil buses catering to local commuters and long-distance travellers.

Currently, over one lakh vehicles—mostly from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh—use the stretch daily to travel to southern districts. To compensate for the removal of 360 trees and enhance green cover, about 4,000 saplings of native species will be planted along both sides of the road.