The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently decided to build another new six-lane greenfield highway from Thatchur near Chennai to Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh at an investment of ₹3,197.56 crore. The project covering a distance of 126.550 km will crisscross through Pulikundram reserve forest in the Red Hills range of the Tiruvallur division and 885.5 hectares will be acquired, which include 525 hectares in Andhra Pradesh and 360.5 hectares in Tamil Nadu. A whopping 64% of land identified for acquisition is agriculture, 15% barren and 10% forest land. The NHAI is building the proposed highway under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, an umbrella scheme of the Central government. NHAI with consultant Louis Berger has prepared a detailed presentation before the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and an in-principle approval was granted shortly thereafter, said official sources
