(MENAFN- KNN India) Puducherry, Oct 14 (KNN) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for three National Highway projects worth over Rs 2,000 crore in Puducherry on October 13, 2025.

The projects include a 4 km elevated corridor between Indira Gandhi Square and Rajiv Gandhi Square on NH-32, improvements to a 14 km stretch of ECR Road on NH-332A, and the 38 km four-lane Puducherry–Poondiyankuppam section of NH-32.

The new road infrastructure is expected to ease traffic congestion, enhance urban mobility, and reduce travel time between Indira Gandhi Square and Rajiv Gandhi Square from 35 minutes to about 10 minutes.

It will also improve road safety, reduce fuel consumption, and support tourism by improving connectivity to Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Natarajar Temple, Navagraha Temples, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, and Pichavaram.

He noted that India's National Highway network has expanded significantly since 2014 and shared details of ongoing initiatives such as the use of municipal waste in road construction, NHAI's efforts in water conservation, and the promotion of alternative fuels like ethanol, biofuels, and CNG to make transportation more energy-efficient.

Gadkari also underlined progress in logistics efficiency, stating that India's logistics cost has declined from 16 per cent to 10 per cent with efforts underway to further reduce it to single digits.

He said India now ranks third globally in automobile manufacturing, with the sector valued at Rs 22 lakh crore and generating 4.5 crore jobs.

The Minister announced several upcoming projects including a four-lane elevated corridor from Natesan Nagar to Marapalam Junction and the Ariyankuppam–Mullodai section, the Marakkanam–Puducherry section of NH-332A, and a six-lane elevated corridor from Madurai to Sriperumbudur.

He also approved strengthening works on NH-32 in Karaikal district and Rs 100 crore under the Setu Bandhan Scheme for bridge construction.

Gadkari informed that Rs 25,000 crore worth of National Highway projects have been planned for Puducherry, with Rs 3,100 crore worth already completed, Rs 11,000 crore ongoing, and Rs 10,300 crore in the pipeline.

(KNN Bureau)

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