Two Routes Are Under Consideration

The final alignment has not yet been selected. Tamil Nadu State Highways Department is reportedly examining two alternatives:

• Kamarajar Salai and Santhome High Road
• Pattinapakkam Loop Road

A Detailed Project Report will be prepared at a cost of ₹30 lakh to study the route, engineering requirements and suitable entry and exit ramps. The ₹30 lakh figure is only the cost of preparing the DPR—not the cost of constructing the corridor.

The department has reportedly chosen an elevated-road solution because the existing stretch is congested and contains several schools, religious institutions and closely developed properties. Widening the road through large-scale land acquisition may therefore be difficult.

Issues the DPR will need to examine

If the Loop Road or a coastal-side alignment is selected, coastal regulation, the Adyar estuary, fishing communities, drainage, shoreline conditions and environmental approvals could become important considerations. The precise requirements will depend on the final route.

The DPR must also examine:

• Traffic movement around schools and places of worship
• Entry and exit ramp locations
• Effect on existing local roads
• Construction-stage congestion
• Utility shifting
• Land requirements
• Coastal and environmental permissions
• Integration with the proposed Secretariat
• Connectivity with existing and upcoming public transport

Linked to the New Secretariat Project

The corridor is being planned alongside a proposed ₹1,200-crore integrated Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex at Foreshore Estate–Pattinapakkam.

The government complex is proposed to contain approximately 20 lakh sq. ft. of built-up space in a 15-storey structure. Around 25 acres have been identified for the development, including land controlled by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Greater Chennai Corporation.

The proposed elevated road is expected to provide better access to this major administrative campus and reduce pressure on the surrounding streets.

Is this an entirely new road proposal?

Not exactly. Chennai has previously considered longer elevated-road concepts beginning at Lighthouse:

• In 2008–2011, an approximately 9.7-km coastal elevated expressway towards ECR was proposed but later dropped following environmental and public opposition.
• In 2022, the Highways Department proposed an approximately 10-km Lighthouse–Guindy elevated corridor. Its possible alignments included Santhome High Road, Loop Road, Greenways Road and Sardar Patel Road.
• The present 3.5-km proposal overlaps with parts of these earlier ideas, but no current report officially describes it as a revival or phase of either previous project.

Will the Corridor Affect Nearby Properties?

The final impact cannot be determined until the DPR identifies the exact alignment, pillars, ramps and land requirements. Properties near a ramp may gain better regional connectivity but could also experience additional traffic, noise or access changes.

Property buyers and landowners in Pattinapakkam, Foreshore Estate, Santhome, Mylapore, R.A. Puram and Adyar should therefore avoid making decisions based only on the announcement. The official government order and final DPR alignment will provide a clearer picture.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next steps are the issue of a government order and appointment of consultants to prepare the DPR. The construction cost, number of lanes, final route, tender schedule and completion deadline have not yet been announced. 

Buyers and property owners near the proposed corridor should wait for the official government order and DPR alignment.Until these details are published, the Lighthouse–Adyar elevated corridor must be treated as a proposal—not a confirmed construction project.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of September 9, 2026. The alignment, project design, approvals, cost and timeline may change after the DPR and government review.