**Policy Summary: Four-Laning of Marakkanam-Puducherry Section of NH-332A**
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the construction of a four-lane Marakkanam-Puducherry section of National Highway 332A in Tamil Nadu. The 46-kilometer project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with a total capital outlay of ₹2,157 crore.
**Project Details:**
* **Name:** Four-Laning of Marakkanam-Puducherry Section (NH-332A)
* **Corridor:** Chennai-Puducherry-Nagapattinam-Tuticorin Corridor (Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, East Coast Road - ECR)
* **Length:** 46.047 km
* **Total Civil Cost:** ₹1,118 crore
* **Land Acquisition Cost:** ₹442 crore
* **Mode:** Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
* **Bypass:** 34.7 km (Greenfield, Access Controlled)
* **National Highway Connections:** NH32, NH332
* **State Highway Connections:** SH136, SH203
* **Connectivity:** Railway Stations (Puducherry, Chinnababusamudram), Airports (Chennai, Puducherry), Minor Port (Cuddalore)
* **Economic Nodes:** Mega Food Park, Pharma Cluster, Fishing Cluster
* **Social Nodes:** Arulmigu Manakula Temple, Paradise Beach
* **Major Cities/Towns Connected:** Chennai, Marakkanam, Puducherry
* **Employment Generation:** 8 lakh person-days (direct), 10 lakh person-days (indirect)
* **Estimated Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) in FY25:** 17,800 Passenger Car Units (PCU)
The project aims to decongest the existing two-lane NH-332A, which currently experiences significant traffic congestion. The upgraded four-lane highway will improve safety, cater to the mobility needs of growing towns, and enhance connectivity between key economic, social, and logistics nodes across Tamil Nadu. It will also facilitate faster movement of goods and passengers by integrating with railway stations, airports, and a minor port. The project is expected to boost regional economic growth, strengthen connectivity between major centers, promote tourism to Puducherry, and generate employment opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: The governmental committee that approved the highway construction project.
Marakkanam Puducherry: The section of National Highway 332A being upgraded to a 4-lane configuration.
National Highway 332A: The specific National Highway (NH332A) being upgraded in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu: The state in which the Marakkanam Puducherry highway project is located.
Hybrid Annuity Mode: The mode of investment being used for the highway project.
Chennai: A major city connected by the corridor.
Puducherry: A major town connected by the corridor.
National Highway 32: One of the two major national highways that the project alignment integrates with.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Cabinet approves construction of 4-lane
Marakkanam – Puducherry (NH-332A) in Tamilnadu
on Hybrid Annuity Mode with an outlay of Rs.2157
crore
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has approved construction of 4-
lane Marakkanam – Puducherry (46 km) in Tamilnadu. The project will be developed on Hybrid Annuity
Mode (HAM) at a total capital cost of Rs.2,157 crore.
Currently, connectivity between Chennai, Puducherry Viluppuram & Nagapattinam is dependent on existing
2-lane National Highway 332A (NH-332A) and associated State Highways, which experience significant
congestion due to high traffic volumes, especially in densely populated stretches and key towns along the
corridor. To address these challenges, the project will upgrade approximately 46 km of NH-332A from
Marakkanam to Puducherry to a 4-lane configuration. This will decongest the existing corridor, improve
safety, and cater to the mobility needs of rapidly growing towns such as Chennai, Puducherry Viluppuram &
Nagapattinam.
The project alignment integrates with 2 major National Highways (NH-32, NH-332) and two State Highways
(SH-136, SH-203), providing seamless connectivity to key economic, social, and logistics nodes across Tamil
Nadu. Additionally, the upgraded corridor will enhance multi-modal integration by connecting with two
Railway Stations (Puducherry, Chinnababusamudram), two Airports (Chennai, Puducherry), and one Minor
Port (Cuddalore) thereby facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers across the region.
Upon completion, the Marakkanam - Puducherry section will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth,
strengthening connectivity between major religious and economic centers, boosting tourism to Puducherry,
and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development. The project will also generate approximately
8 lakh person-days of direct and 10 lakh person-days of indirect employment, and will open new avenues of
growth, development and prosperity in surrounding regions.
Map of CorridorAppendix - I: Project Details
Feature Details
Project Name 4-Lane Marakkanam – Puducherry Section (NH 332A)
Chennai–Puducherry–Nagapattinam-Tuticorin-
Corridor
Kanyakumari Economic Corridor (East Coast Road - ECR)
Length (km) 46.047
Total Civil Cost (Rs Cr.) 1,118
Land Acquisition Cost (Rs Cr.) 442
Total Capital Cost (Rs Cr.) 2,157
Mode Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
Puducherry Bypass (Greenfield Access Controlled) – 34.7
Bypasses
km
National Highways – NH-32, NH-332
Major Roads Connected
State Highways – SH-136, SH-203
Airports: Chennai, Puducherry
Economic / Social / Transport Railway Stations: Puducherry, Chinnababusamudram
Nodes Connected Minor Port: Cuddalore
Economic Nodes: Mega Food Park, Pharma Cluster,Fishing Cluster
Social Nodes: Arulmigu Manakula Temple, Paradise Beach
Major Cities / Towns
Chennai, Marakkanam, Puducherry
Connected
Employment Generation
8 lakh Man-Days (direct) & 10 lakh Man-Days (indirect)
Potential
Annual Average Daily Traffic
Estimated at 17,800 Passenger Car Units (PCU)
(AADT) in FY-25
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MJPS/BM
(Release ID: 2154126)