GST Road’s 18km Makeover: The Double-Decker Era Begins

The Tamil Nadu government has granted in-principle approval for an 18.4-km elevated corridor connecting the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam to Chettipunniyam near Mahindra City on GST Road.

The project, led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is planned as a six-lane elevated highway on the lower deck, with pillars designed to accommodate a future metro line above. Once completed, it would surpass the current national record for a double-decker metro viaduct, which stands at 5.6 km in Nagpur.

The approval followed a high-level review involving officials from the State Highways Department, Chennai Metro Rail, and NHAI, after earlier concerns regarding metro alignment were resolved. A senior NHAI official stated, “The government has granted in-principle approval for constructing the 18.4-km elevated corridor from KCBT to Chettipunniyam.”

The detailed project report (DPR) is currently being revised, after which tenders will be issued, with state government support anticipated for the project’s execution.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.