Land Acquisition Begins for ₹220 Crore Madurai Bridge Expansion

Madurai’s South Gate–Villapuram overbridge, a key 300-metre stretch connecting the city with Madurai airport, has long struggled with severe traffic congestion. To ease the bottleneck, the State Highways Department has proposed constructing a new parallel bridge alongside the existing one.

According to officials, the proposed bridge will run from South Gate Junction to Jeyavilas, while the current road from Jeyavilas to the Avaniyapuram Bypass will be widened into a four-lane corridor. Land acquisition for the project is estimated to cost around ₹220 crore.

The existing bridge, built in 1989, experiences heavy congestion for most of the day. Cab driver S. Asrif Khan said the bridge is usually free only before 7am and after 11pm, adding that traffic often becomes so dense that it can take nearly 10 minutes just to cross. He also noted that overtaking vehicles on the bridge can be risky.

Residents and drivers in the area say traffic builds up during several periods of the day. Muruganandham P., a share-auto driver from Villapuram, said peak congestion typically occurs between 10am and 11:30am and again from 7pm to 8pm, while even minor vehicle breakdowns can bring traffic to a complete halt. To avoid delays, he sometimes takes a 2km longer route via Jaihindpuram to reach the railway junction.

Veteran auto driver S. K. Lingam said traffic jams are frequent regardless of peak hours. Villapuram resident J. Hakkim added that congestion becomes much worse during festival seasons, sometimes lasting for one to two hours, and urged authorities to construct a new bridge or adopt alternative traffic solutions.

Highways officials noted that the existing bridge remains structurally sound, apart from some railing issues, and will not need to be demolished when the new parallel bridge is built.

The proposed project is expected to significantly ease congestion along this vital corridor, improving connectivity to the airport and making daily travel smoother for commuters.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.