NHAI Reopens Chennai-Bengaluru Highway Service Lane in Vellore After Concrete Re-laying

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reopened a re-laid service lane on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) near Christian Medical College in Vellore. The carriageway, which is 300 meters long and 20 feet wide, was relaid with cement concrete to improve its resilience to rainwater and prevent traffic disruptions.

What Happened

The service lane, located at Puttuthakku village, was previously paved with bitumen. During the December 2025 monsoon, heavy rainfall from abandoned quarries flooded the stretch, washing away the bitumen surface and creating large potholes. This damage halted traffic and made the road unusable for various vehicles, including buses, autorickshaws, cars, two-wheelers, and tractors used by farmers. Ambulance services also faced difficulties navigating the bumpy surface.

Why It Matters

The relaid concrete carriageway is designed to allow excess rainwater to drain effectively into nearby canals and lakes before reaching the Palar river. This improved drainage is expected to prevent the road from becoming inundated and damaged during future rainfall events, ensuring smoother traffic flow and enhanced safety for motorists, including those using the stretch for agricultural transport and emergency medical services.

Background

Following the damage from the previous monsoon, NHAI conducted temporary patchwork repairs on the service lane. Subsequently, a decision was made to replace the bitumen surface with a concrete carriageway. Work on the new surface began after the April Assembly polls, during which traffic was rerouted to a newly opened elevated corridor on the highway. The construction involved milling the old surface, adding a two-foot layer of bluemetal, and then a one-foot concrete mixture. After over a month of curing and inspection for cracks, the service lane was opened for public use on Wednesday.

Key Facts

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reopened a service lane on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48).
• The service lane is located near Christian Medical College (CMC) at Puttuthakku village in Vellore.
• The carriageway was relaid with cement concrete to prevent inundation from rainwater.
• The previous bitumen surface was washed away by excess rainwater from abandoned quarries during the December 2025 monsoon, creating potholes and halting traffic.
• The service lane measures 300 meters in length and 20 feet in width.
• Work to re-lay the stretch began after the Assembly polls in April.
• The concrete carriageway is designed to discharge excess rainwater into nearby canals and lakes before draining into the Palar river.
• The relaid stretch was inspected for cracks after more than one month of curing.
• Motorists, farmers, and ambulance drivers previously faced challenges using the damaged service lane.
• The service lane was opened for public use on Wednesday, August 13, 2026.