In its endeavor to accommodate rapid urbanization, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has proposed a comprehensive road widening strategy as part of the Second Master Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) by 2026. The core objective? Enhancing connectivity, easing congestion, and enabling smoother transport networks across the city and its suburbs.
The blueprint, detailed in Annexure IV of the Development Regulations, outlines the proposed Rights of Way (RoW) and setback lines for major road corridors. This initiative not only improves commuter experience but also supports sustainable urban growth.
Why Road Widening Matters
Chennai’s road network is under increasing pressure from urban growth and vehicle density. The proposal to widen key arterial and sub-arterial roads is essential for:
- Reducing traffic congestion
- Facilitating public transit like Metro and BRTS
- Encouraging smoother inter-zonal connectivity
- Creating space for utilities, footpaths, and cycling lanes
As part of this urban upgrade, property owners must adhere to new setback regulations, ensuring future developments do not encroach upon designated road expansion zones.
Complete List of Roads Proposed for Widening
| Sl. No. | Name of the Road | From | To | Right of Way (m) | Building Line (Setback) (m) |
| 1 | M.S. Koil Street, Suriyanarayana Rd | Ebrahim Sahib Street | City Limits | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 2 | Thambu St (Royapuram) | East Kalmandapam Rd | Sheik Mastry St | 10 | 3 |
| 3 | Kathivakkam High Road | Cochrane Basin Rd | City Limits | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 4 | Moolakadai-Thondiarpet Rd | GNT Road | Buckingham Canal | 27 | 4.5 |
| 5 | Kodungaiyur–Chinnasekkadu Rd (Link) | Moolakadai-Thondiarpet Rd | City Limits | 18 | 3 |
| 6 | Erukkanchery High Road | Basin Bridge Rd | City Limits | 27 | 4.5 |
| 7 | Madhavaram High Road | Melpatti Ponnappa St | GNT Road | 24 | 4.5 |
| 8 | Paper Mills Road | Siruvallur Rd | Perambur High Rd | City Limits | 18 |
| 9 | Konnur High Road | Medavakkam Tank Rd | New Avadi Rd | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 10 | C.T.H. Road | New Avadi Rd | Inner Ring Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 11 | New Avadi Road | Kilpauk Water Works | Konnur High Rd | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 12 | New Link Road | New Avadi Rd | Medavakkam Tank Rd | 24 | 4.5 |
| 13 | New Avadi Road | EVR Periyar Salai | Kilpauk Water Works | 18 | 3 |
| 14 | Kilpauk Garden Road | Taylors Road | Anna Nagar 1st Main Rd | 18 | 3 |
| 15 | Thiru Narayana Guru Rd | Perambur Barracks Rd | Sydenhams Rd | 24 | 4.5 |
| 16 | EVR Periyar Salai | McNichols Rd | City Limits | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 17 | Nelson Manickam Rd | EVR Periyar Salai | Tank Bund Rd | 18 | 3 |
| 18 | Tank Bund Road | Nelson Manickam Rd | Valluvar Kottam | 18 | 3 |
| 19 | Village Road (Valluvar Kottam Rd) | Kodambakkam High Rd | Nungambakkam High Rd | 27 | 4.5 |
| 20 | Uthamar Gandhi Salai | Anna Salai | Sterling Road | 27 | 4.5 |
| 21 | Greams Road | Anna Salai | Pantheon Road | 18 | 3 |
| 22 | Ethiraj Salai | Pantheon Rd | Cooum River | 18 | 3 |
| 23 | Cathedral Road | Anna Salai | Music Academy | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 24 | Eldams Road | Anna Salai | TTK Road | 18 | 3 |
| 25 | TTK Road | Chamiers Rd Junction | Alwarpet Junction | 18 | 3 |
| 26 | Greenways Road | Durgabai Deshmukh Rd | MRTS alignment | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 27 | Sardar Patel Road | Anna Salai | Madhya Kailash | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 28 | Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai (LB Road) | M.G. Road | City Limits | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 29 | West Avenue Road | LB Road | East Coast Road (MTC terminus) | 24 | 4.5 |
| 30 | East Coast Road | West Avenue Rd (MTC Terminus) | City Limits | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 31 | Taramani Road | Vijayanagar Junction | LB Road Junction | 45 | 6 |
| 32 | Perungudi Station Road (Link) | Taramani Road | Perungudi Station | 18 | — |
| 33 | Velachery Main Road | Vijayanagar Junction | Tambaram Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 34 | Velachery Bypass Road | Vijayanagar Junction | Taramani Link Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 35 | Taramani Link Road | Velachery Bypass | Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 36 | Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) | Madhya Kailash | CMA Limits | 45 | 6 |
| 37 | Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Road | GST Road (Pallavaram) | Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) | 45 | 6 |
| 38 | Medavakkam–Sholinganallur Road | Velachery Road | OMR | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 39 | Mount Poonamallee Road | Butt Road | Kumananchavadi | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 40 | Poonamallee High Road | EVR Periyar Salai | Poonamallee Bypass | 45 | 6 |
| 41 | Inner Ring Road (Jawaharlal Nehru Salai) | Kathipara Junction | Padi | 45 | 6 |
| 42 | EVR Periyar Salai | Central Station | Poonamallee High Road | 50 | 6 |
| 43 | GST Road | Kathipara | Tambaram | 60 | 6 |
| 44 | Grand Western Trunk Road | Poonamallee | Sriperumbudur | 60 | 6 |
| 45 | Sardar Patel Road | Anna Salai | Rajiv Gandhi Salai | 45 | 6 |
| 46 | 100 Feet Road (Jawaharlal Nehru Salai) | Ashok Pillar | Koyambedu | 45 | 6 |
| 47 | Arcot Road | Vadapalani | Porur | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 48 | Mount Road (Anna Salai) | Fort St. George | Kathipara | 50 | 6 |
| 49 | Nungambakkam High Road | Sterling Road | Anna Salai | 27 | 4.5 |
| 50 | Sterling Road | Nungambakkam High Road | McNichols Road | 24 | 4.5 |
| 51 | Chamiers Road | TTK Road | Anna Salai | 18 | 3 |
| 52 | Luz Church Road | Kutchery Road | Royapettah High Road | 18 | 3 |
| 53 | Royapettah High Road | Luz Church Rd | Anna Salai | 24 | 4.5 |
| 54 | Kutchery Road | Luz Corner | Music Academy (Cathedral Road) | 24 | 4.5 |
| 55 | Santhome High Road | Light House | Foreshore Estate | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 56 | Foreshore Estate Road | Santhome High Road | Marina Loop Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 57 | T.T.K. Road (Extension) | Alwarpet | C.I.T. Nagar | 18 | 3 |
| 58 | Gandhi Irwin Road | Egmore Railway Station | Taylors Road | 27 | 4.5 |
| 59 | Taylors Road | Kilpauk | Poonamallee High Road | 24 | 4.5 |
| 60 | Lloyds Road | Royapettah | Mandaveli | 24 | 4.5 |
| 61 | Greenways Road (Extended) | MRTS Alignment | Adyar | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 62 | Besant Avenue | Adyar | Shastri Nagar | 18 | 3 |
| 63 | Adyar Main Road | Besant Avenue | L.B. Road | 24 | 4.5 |
| 64 | Sardar Patel Road (Extended) | Madhya Kailash | Adyar | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 65 | Thiruvanmiyur Road | L.B. Road | ECR | 18 | 3 |
| 66 | Rajiv Gandhi Road – Extension (OMR II) | Semmancheri | Siruseri | 45 | 6 |
| 67 | Vandalur – Kelambakkam Road | GST Road (Vandalur) | OMR | 45 | 6 |
| 68 | Sholinganallur – ECR Link Road | OMR | ECR | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 69 | Manapakkam Road | Mount Poonamallee Road | Porur | 18 | 3 |
| 70 | Kundrathur Road | Porur | Kundrathur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 71 | Redhills Road | Padi | Redhills | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 72 | Madhavaram – Manali Road | Redhills Road | Manali | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 73 | Ennore High Road | Manali | Ennore Port | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 74 | Inner Ring Road North | Madhavaram | Ennore Expressway | 45 | 6 |
| 75 | Kolathur High Road | Villivakkam | Kolathur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 76 | Red Hills – Sholavaram Road | Red Hills | Sholavaram | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 77 | Puzhal – Avadi Road | Puzhal | Avadi | 24 | 4.5 |
| 78 | Avadi High Road | Ambattur | Avadi | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 79 | Ambattur Industrial Estate Road | Mogappair | Avadi High Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 80 | Avadi – Pattabiram Road | Avadi | Pattabiram | 24 | 4.5 |
| 81 | Pattabiram – Thiruninravur Road | Pattabiram | Thiruninravur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 82 | Thiruninravur – Thiruvallur Road | Thiruninravur | Thiruvallur | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 83 | Chennai Bypass Road | Maduravoyal | Puzhal Bypass | 60 | 6 |
| 84 | Vyasarpadi – Perambur Link Road | Vyasarpadi | Perambur | 18 | 3 |
| 85 | Madhavaram Link Road | Madhavaram | Redhills | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 86 | Korattur High Road | Anna Nagar | Korattur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 87 | West Anna Nagar Road | Anna Nagar | Koyambedu | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 88 | Retteri – Ponniammanmedu Road | Retteri | Ponniammanmedu | 24 | 4.5 |
| 89 | Ponniammanmedu – Kolathur Road | Ponniammanmedu | Kolathur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 90 | Perambur High Road | Perambur | Vyasarpadi | 24 | 4.5 |
| 91 | Ayanavaram Road | Ayanavaram | Otteri | 24 | 4.5 |
| 92 | Ayanavaram – Villivakkam Road | Ayanavaram | Villivakkam | 24 | 4.5 |
| 93 | Villivakkam – Kolathur Road | Villivakkam | Kolathur | 24 | 4.5 |
| 94 | Otteri High Road | Otteri | Purasawalkam | 18 | 3 |
| 95 | Basin Bridge Road | Central Railway Station | Erukkanchery | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 96 | VOC Road | Mint | Washermenpet | 18 | 3 |
| 97 | Basin Bridge Bypass | Mint | GNT Road | 45 | 6 |
| 98 | Inner Harbour Road | Royapuram | Chennai Port | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 99 | Royapuram High Road | Royapuram | Kasimedu | 24 | 4.5 |
| 100 | Ennore Expressway | Chennai Port | Ennore Port | 60 | 6 |
| 101 | Tondiarpet High Road | Tondiarpet | Madhavaram | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 102 | Manali High Road | Manali | Madhavaram | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 103 | Kamarajar Salai | Marina Beach | Light House | 45 | 6 |
| 104 | Rajaji Salai | Fort | Beach Road | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 105 | Beach Road | Napier Bridge | Foreshore Estate | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 106 | Elliots Beach Road | Besant Nagar | Foreshore | 18 | 3 |
| 107 | OMR Extension | Siruseri | Mahabalipuram | 45 | 6 |
| 108 | ECR Extension | Uthandi | Mahabalipuram | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 109 | Pallikaranai–Medavakkam–Velachery Road | Pallikaranai | Velachery | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 110 | Sholinganallur–Perumbakkam Road | Sholinganallur | Perumbakkam | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 111 | Perumbakkam–Medavakkam Road | Perumbakkam | Medavakkam | 24 | 4.5 |
| 112 | Nanmangalam–Kovilambakkam Road | Nanmangalam | Kovilambakkam | 18 | 3 |
| 113 | Madambakkam Road | Madambakkam | Tambaram | 24 | 4.5 |
| 114 | Selaiyur – Camp Road | Selaiyur | Camp Road | 18 | 3 |
| 115 | Tambaram – Irumbuliyur Link Road | Tambaram | GST Road | 24 | 4.5 |
| 116 | Mudichur Road | West Tambaram | Mudichur | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 117 | Padappai Road | Vandalur | Padappai | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 118 | Kelambakkam – Thiruporur Road | Kelambakkam | Thiruporur | 30.5 | 4.5 |
| 119 | Singaperumal Koil – Oragadam Road | Singaperumal Koil | Oragadam | 45 | 6 |
| 120 | Oragadam – Sriperumbudur Road | Oragadam | Sriperumbudur | 45 | 6 |
➡️ For full tabulated details including starting point, endpoints, widths, and specific village boundaries, you can access
📄 Annexure IV (Starts from Page 63)
Impact on Urban Planning and Real Estate
This widening drive is not merely cosmetic—it’s transformative. The expansion enables:
- Better flow of buses, autos, cars, and emergency vehicles
- Reduction in commute times
- Support for metro rail & BRTS integration
- Wider footpaths and cycling tracks
- More green buffers and service lanes
How it affects development and compliance
Every road in the list now requires developments to follow updated setback rules based on the proposed RoW. For instance:
- A building on Arcot Road must maintain the prescribed setback from the 30.5 m RoW, not the existing 18 m width.
- Failure to comply can result in building plan rejection or demolition notices.
Transferable Development Rights (TDRs): A Balanced Solution
To ensure fairness, CMDA allows affected landowners to receive Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) if part of their property is required for road widening. This compensates floor space index (FSI) lost due to setback enforcement.
Learn more about TDRs under:
👉 Annexure XXI – Regulation for the Grant of TDR
What’s Next?
Chennai’s road expansion project is already influencing real estate demand, especially in:
- OMR and ECR (tech corridors)
- Velachery and Tambaram (transit hubs)
- Porur and Madhavaram (residential growth zones)
Before you invest or develop, it’s crucial to review how these proposed roads may affect your site plan.
💡 Pro Tip: We recommend consulting with urban planning experts before buying or building near any of the roads listed in Annexure IV, such as the specialists at Verified Real Estate, your proactive partner in ensuring regulatory compliance and future-ready investments.
Conclusion: A Future-Ready Chennai
The Second Master Plan is not just a document—it’s a city-wide blueprint shaping Chennai’s growth until 2026 and beyond. The proposed road widenings, while disruptive in the short term, promise long-term gains in mobility, safety, and livability.
Chennai is moving. The question is: Are you moving with it?