National highway in Tamil Nadu turns toll road with minor tweak; users pay Rs 36 crore
When TNIE travelled through the 110-kilometer stretch, it was evident NH section has been plagued with plenty of issues including poor visibility caused by frequent curves, encroachments on both sides of the road from Vellore Bus Stand to Adukkumparai, lack of signage boards, absence of road overbridges at railway level crossings, and no flyovers at major junctions. These problems are exacerbated during Pournami Girivalam days when the highway sees heavy traffic towards Tiruvannamalai from both Vellore and Villupuram, significantly increasing the risk for motorists.
The NH witnessed huge congestion at Kannamangalam and Kaniyambadi junctions during peak hours. A large number of motorists from Chittoor, Pakala, and other parts of Andhra Pradesh, who regularly visit the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple use the Vellore-Tiruvannamalai NH. They allege that the road was poorly designed and there was no facility at toll plazas.
The RTI data further disclosed that from May 2023 to November 2024, a total of 244 accidents were recorded on the stretch in which 18 people lost their lives, 54 were grievously injured, and 116 were left with minor injuries.
Interestingly, the average monthly toll collection stands at Rs 85 lakh for Vallam, Rs 69 lakh for Enamkariyanandal, and Rs 28 lakh for Thennamadevi. In contrast, state highways, funded through road taxes and state allocations, develop four-lane and six-lane roads and build bridges with project costs ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 crore that are still toll-free. The state highway has spent an average of Rs 100 to Rs 110 crore for construction per km for flyovers/bridges in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchy in recent years.
Around 335 government buses registered in Vellore, Villupuram, and Tiruvannamalai districts cross the toll plazas monthly at subsidised rates, while other buses purchase monthly passes allowing 50 trips.
S Ram Charan, a resident of Chittoor, said, “I have been visiting the Tiruvannamalai temple for 15 years. The road has seen no significant improvements since 2017, but was converted into a tolled road. Poor visibility at curves and medians in the middle of the road often lead to dangerous overtaking attempts by buses, putting commuters at risk.”
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