BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON CHENNAI PERIPHERAL ROAD

1 Scheme and Authority

Chennai is the Capital of Tamil Nadu, has grown as a perfect base in respect of

institutions, information technology, automobile and hardware manufacturing. Due to

growing volume of traffic in and around the City, there is an immediate need for

improvement of infrastructure facilities.

Government of Tamil Nadu is in the process of identifying and implementing projects

to bridge the huge gap in the demand and supply of infrastructure projects. One of the

major projects included in VISION 2023 is Chennai Peripheral Road.

Chennai Peripheral Road is conceptualized to provide better connectivity around the

city catering future traffic requirements and provide efficient commercial

transportation by enhancing port connectivity. This road will facilitate container

movement from southern districts to Ennore Port.

The Government of Tamil Nadu have accorded administrative sanction for the work

of preparation of DPR for forming Peripheral Road connecting Mahabalipuram to

Ennore Port.

Name of Work: Peripheral Road connecting Mahabalipuram to Ennore Port (via)

Singaperumalkoil, Sriperumbudur, Thiruvallur, Thamaraipakkam, Periyapalayam,

Puduvoyal and Kattupalli.

2 Necessity for forming Peripheral Road

Chennai city is located on the coast of Bay of Bengal which makes the road

layout in the metropolitan area is of radial pattern.

There are 4 principal radial arterials, viz. NH-5, NH-205, NH-4, NH-45, to the

north, north-west, west and south respectively.

In addition, there are three more radial arterials,(i) along the coast on the

northern side (Thiruvotriyur High Road), (ii) between NH-4 and NH-45 (Arcot

Road) and (iii) along the south coast (ECR & OMR).

The radial roads are congested and inadequate to handle the growing traffic

need. The connecting road system, with lot of missing links, has put

tremendous strain on the radial network.

City has got three circumferential roads viz., Inner Ring Road, Chennai

Bypass and Outer Ring Road which connects the radial roads.

As the city is developing beyond the limits of these circumferential roads, a

new circumferential road is required.

Chennai Airport is the third busiest airport in India.

The city is served by two major ports.

- Chennai port is the largest in Bay of Bengal and India's second busiest

container hub, handling automobiles, motorcycles and general industrial

cargo.

- Ennore Port currently handles cargo such as coal, iron ore, other bulk and

rock mineral products and future expansion plans are on the anvil.

Chennai city has got one more private sea port at Kattupalli near the northern

town of Ennore.

Road connectivity to the Ennore and Kattupalli ports needs to be provided

from the radial roads without congesting the city roads.

Also the upcoming regional industries require capacity augmentation in terms

of traffic infrastructure.

3 Project Road

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has identified already a tentative alignment for

the proposed peripheral road. This alignment was studied along with other alternate

alignments on the basis of technical and financial viability. The proposed alignment

options were evaluated by the Technical Sub-Committee, Technical Committee and

Steering Committee based on technical and financial viability. The alignment for

Chennai Peripheral Road was approved by the Steering Committee and finalized by

the Principal Secretary, Highways and Minor Ports, Government of Tamil Nadu on

09.07.2014.

The Peripheral road will starts at Ennore Port and ends at Poonjeri Junction (km

56/800 of ECR) in Mahabalipuram. The proposed road will connect four National

Highways – NH-5, NH-205, NH-4 and NH-45, and eight State Highways – SH-51,

SH-50A, SH-50, SH-48, SH-57, SH-49B, SH-49A (OMR) and SH 49 (ECR). Length

of proposed peripheral road will be around 133.381 km which is split into 5 sections.

Section 1: Northern Port Access Road - Ennore Port to Thatchur on NH-5

Section 2: Thatchur on NH-5 to Start of Thiruvallur Bypass

Section 3: Start of Thiruvallur Bypass to Sriperumbudur on NH-4

Section 4: Sriperumbudur on NH-4 to Singaperumalkoil on NH-45

Section 5: Singaperumalkoil on NH-45 to Mahabalipuram

Section - 1: Northern Port Access Road from Ennore Port to Thatchur on NH-5

Feasibility Study Report for forming North Port Access Road (NPAR) from Northern

Gate of Ennore port to Thatchur on NH-5 (km 30/270 ) with a connecting road to

Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetty Road was prepared already by NHAI. As requested by

the Government of Tamil Nadu, NHAI handed over the Feasibility Report to the State

Government to take the Project forward. GoTN appointed TNRDC as Managing

Associate for the project and modified the alignment with additional access provisions

as per the requirements of major stakeholders. The length of NPAR will be 21.12 km

and the TPP link Road is 4.35 km.

The proposed NPAR will have 4-lane divided carriageway with 2-lane service roads

on both sides and the proposed ROW is 100m. TNRDC prepared already the updated

feasibility report with land plan schedule which are adequate to implement the project

on DBFOT basis. In order to avoid built-up section, HT lines and to accommodate the

interchange at NH-5, the end of project road is shifted southwards to km. 29/000 of

NH-5. As the alignment of NPAR from Ch. 17+300 to NH-5 is modified, the length

of NPAR will be 20.900 km against the original length of 21.120 km. The link road

from NPAR to TPP road for a length of 4.21km is also included in the project. Total

length of the section is 25.11 km and is totally new formation.

Section - 2: NH-5 at Thatchur to Start of Thiruvallur Bypass

The entire section will be new alignment from km 29/000 of NH-5 near Thatchur to

km 50/500 of SH-57 near Othikkadu Village. The length of section is 26.40 km. The

alignment will cross SH-51 at km 9/100 and SH-50A at km 18/400. As the SH-57

from km 50/500 to km 56/900 is passing through 6 villages, to avoid social impact

new alignment is proposed parallel to SH-57, behind the settlements, from km 56/900

near Velliyur Village to end of project section (i.e. km 50/500 of SH-57). The project

road will have 6-lane with paved shoulder carriageway with 2-lane service road on

both sides and the proposed right of way is 60m.

Section - 3: Start of Thiruvallur Bypass to Sriperumbudur

This section starts at km 50/500 of SH-57 i.e. start of Thiruvallur bypass and ends at

km 42/250 of NH-4 in Sriperumbudur. Total length of this section is 30.60 km in

which 9.6 km is improvement of existing SH-57 and balance is new alignment.

Bypasses are proposed for Thiruvallur and Sriperumbudur towns and a realignment is

proposed for Thodukkadu village.

Thiruvallur bypass starts at km 50/500 of SH-57, crosses NH-205 at km 51/650 and

SH-50 at km 16/900 and ends at km 38/900 of SH-57. Length of this bypass will be

around 15.7 km. In order to avoid the built-up area of Sriperumbudur town, a new

alignment is proposed along the Sriperumbudur tank bund from km 26/600 of SH-57

to km 42/250 of NH-4, for a length of 1.6 km. The realignment of Thodukkadu village

is from km 27/600 to km 30/300 of SH-57, for a length of 2.85 km

The project road will have 6-lane with paved shoulder carriageway with 2-lane service

road on both sides and the proposed right of way is 60m.

Section - 4: Sriperumbudur to Singaperumalkoil

This section is stretch of SH-57 from NH-4 in Sriperumbudur to NH-45 in

Singaperumalkoil, for a length of 23.80 km.

Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (TNRIDC), is widening

this stretch of SH-57 to 6-lanes with service roads and Projects wing of Highways

Department, Government of Tamil Nadu is constructing a ROB (in lieu of LC 47)

with interchange (elevated roundabout type) on NH-45 at start of SH-57. Hence new

vehicular underpasses only proposed within the available land to improve the safety.

Section - 5: Singaperumalkoil to Mahabalipuram

This section starts at km 47/400 of NH-45 in Singaperumalkoil, where the

Interchange-cum-ROB is under construction and ends at Poonjeri Junction in

Mamallapuram. Total length of this stretch is 27.471 km in which 2.0 km is

improvement of existing SH-49B from km 11/200 to km 13/200 and balance is new

alignment. The project road will be 4-lane with paved shoulder carriageway with 2-

lane service road on both sides and the proposed right of way is 60m.

Approved Alignment of Peripheral Road

4 Socio-Economic Profile

The peripheral road will passing through/near Kattupalli, Thamaraipakkam,

Thiruvallur, Sriperumbudur, Singaperumalkoil and Mahabalipuram.

According to the provisional population results of 2011, the city had a population of

46,81,087, with a density of 26,903 per km² and the urban agglomeration had a

population of 86,53,521. The city registered a growth rate of 7.77% during the period

2001–2011.

The sex ratio in Chennai city is 986 females for every 1,000 males whereas in CMA it

is 981 females for 1000 males. The average literacy rate rose from 85.33% in 2001 to

90.33% in 2011, much higher than the national average of 79.5%.

Chennai's economy has a broad industrial base in the automobile, computer,

technology, hardware manufacturing and healthcare sectors. As of 2012, the city is

India's second largest exporter of information technology and business process

outsourcing services. A major part of India's automobile industry is based in and

around the city.

The comprehensive profile of employment in CMA has been made on the basis of

secondary sources including Census data. The participation rate i.e. proportion of

main workers to the population of CMA was 30.74% in 1991 and 30.96% in 2001.

The corresponding figures for Chennai City were 30.50% in 1991 and 31.79% in

2001. The number of marginal workers both in Chennai City and in CMA is

negligible.

5 Cross Section

The Peripheral road is designed as a dual carriageway facility. The Steering

Committee finalized the lane configuration for each section considering the traffic,

environmental, social and cost of the project.

The Section-1 will have 4-lane with paved shoulder carriageway and 2-lane service

road with 1.5m wide footpath on both sides. The proposed Right of Way is 100m.

The Section-2 & 3 will have 6-lane with paved shoulder carriageway and 2-lane

service road with 3m wide footpath-cum-drain on both sides. The proposed Right of

Way is 60m.

The Section-4 will have 6-lane with paved shoulder carriageway and 2-lane service

road with 2.5m wide footpath-cum-drain on both sides with 1 to 1.5m wide central

median. The improvements are under construction by TNRIDC. Hence to improve the

safety, underpasses are proposed at required locations within the available land i.e. 40

to 60m.

The Section-5 of proposed peripheral road will have 4-lane with paved shoulder

carriageway and 2-lane service road with 3m wide footpath-cum-drain on both sides.

The proposed Right of Way is 60m.

Proposed Configuration

Sl.

No. Description Section - 1 Section - 2 Section - 3 Section - 4

Section -

5

1 Right of way

(RoW) 100m 60m 60m 40-60m 60m

2 Number of lanes in

Main Carriageway

2 X 2-lane

with paved

shoulder

2 X 3-lane

with paved

shoulder

2 X 3-lane

with paved

shoulder

2 X 3-lane

with paved

shoulder

2 X 2-lane

with

paved

shoulder

3 Central Median 4.00m 4.00m 4.00m 1.0m 4.00m

4 Service Road 2 X 2-lane 2 X 2-lane 2 X 2-lane 2 X 2-lane 2 X 2-lane

5 Footpath/Drain/

Utility Corridor

2 X 2m &

2 X 3m 2 X 3m 2 X 3m 2 X 2.5m 2 X 3m

6 Width of Main

Carriageway in

Structures

2 X 12.5m 2 X 12.5m 2 X 12.5m 2 X 12.5m 2 X 12.5m

6 Surveys and Investigation

Various engineering surveys and investigations were carried out as per ToR on the

project corridor. These includes topographical survey, road and structural inventory/

condition survey and pavement investigation on the existing road sections which will

be part of Peripheral road, sub-grade soil investigation, etc.

Typical Cross Section for Section – 1

Typical Cross Section for Section – 2 & 3

Typical Cross Section for Section – 4

Typical Cross Section for Section – 5

7 Traffic Surveys and Forecast

The following traffic surveys were carried out for the project as per ToR.

Classified Traffic Volume Count Survey - 19 locations

Turning Movement Survey - 12 locations

Origin-Destination & Commodity movement Survey - 15 locations

Axle Load Survey - 10 locations

Pedestrian Count Survey - 13 locations

Speed and Delay Survey

Truck Terminal survey - 3 locations

Analysis of the traffic survey data brings out the Annual Average Daily Traffic of

existing roads in the project area, peak hour turning movement of existing junctions,

traffic characteristics and movement pattern along the project corridor, pedestrian

movements in the project locations, vehicle loading characteristics and existing speed-

delay characteristics on the project area and requirement of truck parking facility.

The AADT of NH-45, NH-4 and NH-5 are more than 50000 PCU and AADT of

ECR, stretch of SH-57 from NH-45 to NH-205, SH-50, NH-205, SH-50A and SH-51

are more than 10000 PCU. Peak hour share is 5.5 to 8.5% and the peak hour is

identified during morning and evening hours. It is clearly observed that a significant

movement of freight traffic takes place during nights and early mornings. The

passenger traffic movement takes place during the day time.

From the outcome of origin-destination survey, O-D zoning system developed (20

zones) and O-D matrix for each survey location, vehicle category-wise, was prepared.

Traffic growth rate identified by the transport demand elasticity method.

The traffic projection is made for next 30 years (up to the year 2043). The expected

traffic, which is mainly diverted traffic, in each project section was identified from the

combined O-D matrices. Considering various factors, 5% generated traffic was

considered for all the sections of proposed Peripheral road for first 5 years after

construction of project. Even though the traffic requires more lanes in each section,

considering the presence & proximity of Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR) and

Chennai Bypass and their influence on the projected traffic volumes, Steering

Committee suggested to restrict the number of lanes to 2 x 3 lane with paved shoulder

(same as CORR).

8 Detailed Design

The project road components are designed as an access controlled road, as per the

parameters recommended in the relevant standards of the Indian Roads Congress

(IRC) and MoRTH circulars, based on the findings of field surveys and investigations.

The ruling design speed of 100 kmph is considered in the project except at few

locations where the minimum design speed of 80 kmph is considered due to site

constrains.

9 Pavement

The pavement is designed for a life of 15 years for bituminous layers and 20 years for

granular layers. Flexible payment is considered for the project to minimize the initial

construction cost. Guideline of IRC: 37-2012 is followed for design of new pavement

and IRC: 81 - 1997 is followed for strengthening of existing pavement layers. The

proposed pavement composition is given below.

Proposed Pavement Composition for Main Carriageway

Description Section - 1 Section -

2 & 3 Section - 4 Section - 5

Service

Road

Bituminous Concrete 50 50 50 50 40

Dense Bituminous

Macadam 115 115 135 110 100

Wet Mix Macadam 250 250 250 250 250

Granular Sub-base 200 200 200 200 200

Total 615 615 635 610 590

Sub-grade CBR,% 8% 8% 8% 8% 8%

Strengthening of existing pavement is considered only in Section-2 where the existing

road is under widening by TNRIDC. As per the traffic loading and deflection values

identified by the field surveys, 40mm BC and 50mm DBM is proposed as overlay for

the existing road. The new pavement composition shall be followed for the

approaches of proposed underpasses in this Section.

10 Storm Water Drainage

The surface and subsurface drains are designed in accordance with the requirements

of IRC:SP:42. Lined storm water drains with inner dimension of 1.2m X 1.5m is

proposed on both sides of the project road under the footpath, with cross fall towards

drain. Unlined trapezoidal drain is proposed at the centre of future public transport

corridor. Chute drains are proposed over proper bedding at embankments with height

more than 3m. Cross drainage structures are proposed based on the drainage

requirements.

11 Interchanges and Underpasses

The project road crosses four National Highways for which interchanges proposed.

NH-4, NH-205 & NH-5 : Cloverleaf Interchange

NH-45 : Elevated Roundabout Interchange

Underpasses are proposed at important junctions and built-up sections along the

project road. Vehicular underpasses of 5.5m vertical clearance with double vent

(2X12m) for SH & MDR and single vent (1X12m) for other important roads are

proposed. Light Vehicular underpass of 4.5m vertical clearance with single vent

(1X12m) is proposed at required locations.

Project Section Vehicular Underpass Light Vehicular

Underpass Double Vent Single Vent

Section - 1 0 5 3

Section - 2 3 3 3

Section – 3 2 4 1

Section – 4 6 3 3

Section – 5 3 3 7

Total 14 18 17

12 Bridges and Culverts

The project road crosses two Rivers, i.e. Cooum River and Kosathalai River, and

number of tanks, channela, nallahs, back water, Buckingham canal, etc. Bridges are

proposed for these waterway crossings.

13 Junction Improvements

The project has two major at-grade junctions which are designed as per IRC

guidelines and type design of Intersections proposed by MoRT&H. The junction of

NPAR with Link Road is designed as a 3-arm at-grade junction and Poonjeri junction,

end of project report, is designed as at-grade junction with elliptical roundabout

covering project junction and ECR-OMR junction. Necessary channelizing island,

sign boards, markings are proposed at the junctions. Landscaping is proposed on the

islands and high mast lights are proposed to illuminate the junction area.

The project road has 56 minor junctions formed by low category cross roads with the

proposed service road which are designed as per IRC guidelines with adequate turning

radius, sign boards, marking, speed breakers, etc. The traffic from these cross roads

shall merge with service road and crossing through the next available vehicular

underpass. No direct entry/exit is permissible from the cross roads to the Main

carriageway of Peripheral Road except at Interchanges.

14 Project Furniture

Cautionary, mandatory and informatory signs are proposed for the elevated road and

interchanges main carriageway, service road and other project facilities, depending on

the situation and function they perform, in accordance with the IRC: 67-2012.

To regulate the traffic and for the psychological awareness to the road user, edge lane

marking, lane markings, chevron markings, stop line, zebra crossing are also proposed

at required locations.

As the crash barriers are proposed throughout the project, delineators are proposed at

super elevated sections only with 30-40m spacing. The hazard markers are proposed

in curved stretches at the crash barriers of structures like interchanges, underpasses,

bridges, etc and the object hazard markers are proposed at the start of concrete crash

barrier of these structures.

Road studs are proposed at the edge lane marking, acceleration lane, deceleration

lane, weaving portion, chevron markings, entry/exit ramps, bus bays, zebra crossings,

etc as per IRC:SP:87-2013.

The semi rigid, Thrie beam type steel barrier is proposed all along the project road at

central median, divider/earthen shoulder and footpath.

The flashing beacons are proposed for the safety purpose at the at-grade junction in

underpasses, truck parking locations, entry/exit ramps and rest area locations.

15 Project Facilities

The project facilities including access facilities, pedestrian facilities, lighting, truck

parking, bus bays, rest areas, etc are proposed as per the standards.

The project road is designed as access controlled road due to its high-speed traffic

movement. Two lane service road is proposed on both sides of Main Carriageway,

separated by divider. Also no median opening is proposed in the project road.

There is no direct access is provided for the Main Carriageway. Entry and exit ramps

along with separate lane for acceleration and deceleration are provided to facilitate

safe access between Main Carriageway and Service Road. The layout and geometry

for entry and exit ramps are designed as per IRC: SP: 84-2014.

Project Section Separate Entry/Exits Combined

Entry/Exit Ramp Entry Ramp Exit Ramp

Section - 1 5 4 4

Section - 2 6 6 2

Section – 3 5 5 4

Section – 4 0 0 0

Section – 5 3 3 4

Total 19 18 14

Footpaths are proposed on both sides of the project road throughout the length

including waterway crossings. The width of footpath is 2m in Section 1, 3m in

Section 2, 3 & 5 and 2.5m in Section 4. No exclusive pedestrian crossing facility is

proposed in the project whereas the pedestrian can cross the project road through

underpasses. The underpasses are proposed in the built-up locations also to facilitate

pedestrian crossing the road. The bus bays are located adjacent to the underpasses to

increase the access for pedestrian. At-grade pedestrian crossings are proposed for all

the intersections with adequate signs, zebra markings, studs, speed breakers, etc.

Highway lighting is proposed throughout the project road to illuminate the roadway

by single arm and double arm light poles based on the requirements. Additional

lighting is proposed in the truck parking, rest areas and entry/exit ramps. Lighting is

proposed inside the underpasses for safe movement of vehicles and pedestrian. High

mask lights are proposed at interchanges and major at-grade junctions.

Truck lay-byes are proposed on the main carriageway as per the layout given in

IRC:SP:87-2013. The places are selected based on the geometry of highway without

interference with other facilities of the project road. Five truck lay byes are proposed

in each section of the project road and one truck lay bye is proposed in the link road.

The proposed peripheral road is designed for high speed vehicles/fright movement,

and is designed as access controlled facility, so the local bus transport should be in the

service roads only. This will enable the bus traffic movement between cross roads and

through the project alignment. Bus bays are proposed in the service roads, adjacent to

underpasses to facilitate pedestrian crossings. The layout of bus bays is proposed as

per the guidelines of IRC:SP:87-2013. The bus shelters are proposed in each bus bay

for passengers. The shelters are designed as structurally safe, aesthetic in appearance

and also being functional to protect the waiting passengers from sun, wind and rain.

Totally 68 number of bus bays are proposed in the project road.

Section - 1: 12 Nos. & Link Road: 2 Nos.

Section - 2: 17 Nos.

Section - 3: 15 Nos.

Section - 5: 22 Nos.

The rest areas are proposed in the project as suggested in IRC:SP:87-2013 with the

facilities like toilets, telephones, cafeteria, restaurant, parking for cars, buses and

trucks, dormitory, rest rooms, fuel stations, etc. Two rest areas are proposed in each

section of the project road.

Landscape treatment of the project road shall be designed through planting of trees

and ground cover of appropriate varieties and landscaping of locations but not limited

to such as on surplus land to the RoW, median, divider and island strip.

15 Utilities

There are various over ground and underground utilities along and across the project

corridor in entire length of the project road. The utilities, which will be affected due to

implementation of the project, shall be shifted before start the construction activities.

Utility shifting plan is prepared and the utility shifting cost for the project is

estimated as Rs. 68 Cr.

16 Additional Land Requirement

The project road is predominantly in new alignment which requires acquisition of

private land and alienation of government land, except in Section-4 where the

improvements are proposed within existing RoW. The project road will involve

acquisition of around 665 ha of private land and alienation of around 135 ha of

government land. The cost of compensation for 800.59 ha land is estimated as Rs.

3800 Cr.

17 Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental impact assessment indicates that there is no major environmental

concerns in construction of the project road, minor impacts will be mitigated through

environmental management plan. The starting stretch of Section 1 requires CRZ

clearance from competent authority.

The Section 3 and 5 of project road is passing through forest area for a total length of

around 2 km. Hence the project requires forest land of around 10.23 ha.

The project is expected to lead to cutting of about 4797 trees. Out of which 806 trees

will be felled and remaining 3991 trees with girth size below 900mm will be

transplanted. The 806 tree felling will be compensated by planting 8060 trees at 1:10

ratio.

18 Social Impact Assessment and Resettlement Action Plan

The project will have social impact in terms of loss of livelihood or shelter for which

suitable resettlement action plan is prepared. The project affects 616 title holders, 4

encroachers, 328 squatters, 255 tenants and 89 common properties.

19 Cost Estimate

Detailed cost estimate have been worked out based on Rate Analysis /Current

Schedule of Rates (2016-17)/Local Market rates and latest data approved by

MoRT&H. Project cost, excluding land acquisition cost, is estimated as Rs. 6175 Cr.

20 Conclusion and Recommendations

The project corridor will be an important transport corridor and provide better

connectivity around Chennai. This road will connect all the major radial roads

including four National Highways and Ennore & Kattupalli Ports which accelerate

industrial and economic growth of the State. As a whole, formation of Peripheral road

will save travel time/distance of bypass-able traffic and improve Port connectivity.