Mumbai, July 23 -- The realignment of the Thoppur Ghat section on National Highway 44 is progressing, with the Rs 9,050 million (mn) project covering a six point six kilometre stretch between Dharmapuri and Salem.
The investment aims to widen the carriageway and ease the steep gradient while eliminating sharp curves to improve safety and traffic flow. The scheme forms part of a broader effort to upgrade the corridor to four to six lanes and to accommodate heavy vehicular volumes.
Work on the corridor has reached 46 per cent completion and is scheduled for conclusion in March 2028. The highway currently serves about 60,000 vehicles daily, including some 5,000 trucks, and the upgrade is intended to reduce congestion and support freight movement. Project managers report that construction activity focuses on geometric realignment, pavement strengthening and drainage improvements to enhance resilience.
The design includes a three point six eight kilometre elevated corridor supported on 83 piers that will bypass the most hazardous sector. The realignment has reduced gradients by three per cent to between five and seven per cent on the downhill stretch, a change expected to lower the incidence of brake failures and runaway vehicles. Engineering works also involve slope stabilisation and the removal of acute curves to shorten travel time and improve sight lines.
Between 2018 and 2026 the stretch recorded some 630 accidents and 80 fatalities, statistics that have underlined the urgency of the intervention. Authorities say the project will enhance road safety and economic connectivity by reducing travel disruptions and improving reliability for long haul traffic. Continued site supervision aims to keep progress on schedule while minimising environmental and social impacts during construction.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.