NHAI Awards Contract for Construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram Bypass on Kallagam to Meensurutti Section of NH-81 in Tamil Nadu
NHAI Awards Contract for Construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram Bypass on Kallagam to Meensurutti Section of NH-81 in Tamil Nadu
NHAI has issued Letter of Award (LOA) for the construction of 7 km long two-lane with paved shoulder Greenfield Bypass to Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Kallagam to Meensurutti section of NH-81 in Tamil Nadu. The foundation stone of the project was laid by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 11th March 2026.
The construction of the greenfield project includes development of 3.47 km long service/slip roads, 2 minor bridges, 2 VUPs, 3 LVUPs and 8 box culverts. The project will help to ease traffic congestion and benefit pilgrims visiting the 1,000 years old Brihadeeswara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
The existing NH-81 passes very close to the Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, causing safety concerns to the pilgrims visiting the Temple. The construction of the Bypass will help in diverting major volume of traffic, especially heavy vehicles, through the bypass making traveling of pilgrims to the Temple safer and more convenient. The bypass will also help to minimize air pollution and resultant damage to the inscriptions on the temple stones as well as will help in saving the temple from possible damage due to plying of heavy vehicles in proximity.
In addition, the project will reduce the travel time to the famous Aranganatha Swamy Temple at Srirangam and Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram. The bypass will help to strengthen the local economy and provide seamless travel experience to the National Highway users in the region.