The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has resumed work, including laying of bitumen carriageway on the elevated portion of Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) at Melvisharam near Arcot town in Ranipet, bringing relief to hundreds of motorists.
The action comes after The Hindu in its news report highlighted the plight of motorists in using the narrow service lanes due to delay in completion of the bridge work. Non-availability of bitumen to lay the carriageway was said to be the reason for the delay. “The portion of the bridge, especially towards Chennai, is being black topped. Motorists can use the new bridge once the work is completed in the next few days,” a NHAI official told The Hindu.
Officials of NHAI, which is executing the ₹22-crore elevated bridge work, said that the carriageway of the new bridge towards Bengaluru was blacktopped before Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Since then, motorists have been using the newly-laid bridge.
However, the carriageway towards Chennai has not been laid due to sudden price escalation of tar due to conflict in the Middle East. As a result, motorists travelling towards Chennai were forced to use the existing service lane, which is 30 feet wide.
Ambulances and long distance buses get stuck in traffic congestion along the service lane, especially during rush hours. “Resumption of blacktopping of the unfinished bridge is a welcome step as opening of the facility will ensure safe travel for motorists. Adequate safety measures like reflectors, blinkers and signages should be installed on the bridge,” said G. Ponram, a motorist.
NHAI officials said that the elevated bridge has an underpass for local residents to cross the busy stretch safely. The bridges have been built at ‘black spots’. These black spots are accident prone spots that are based on reports given by the police to the district administration. As per plan, the new underpass of the bridge is 4.5 metres high and 20 metres wide.
Motorists said that the service lane, which is six metres wide, especially towards Chennai, has remained potole-riden for over a month now. The badly-damaged stretch has posed severe risk to motorists, including ambulances and school vehicles besides pedestrians.
Based on directions by Ranipet Collector N. Priya, the police requested the NHAI to open the under-construction bridge towards Bengaluru to ease the traffic flow on the route and also to ensure safety of motorists.
Published – June 30, 2026 10:16 pm IST