National Highway 205 (India)

205 National Highway 205
Route information
Length:	442 km (275 mi)
Major junctions
From:	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
To:	Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh
Location
States:	Tamil Nadu: 82 km Andhra Pradesh: 360 km
Primary destinations:	Tiruttani, Tirupathi
Highway system
Indian Road Network National Expressways State ← NH 204 NH 206 →

National Highway 205 (NH 205) is a National Highway in India. NH 205 connects Chennai in Tamil Nadu with Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh. Starting from Poonamalle high road/NH 4 in Kilpauk Chennai it joins Anantpur at NH 7.

Route

Chennai -12 km- Padi -12 km- Avadi -22 km- Tiruvallur -22 km- Kanakamma Chatram -16 km-Tiruttani -15 km- Nagari -15 km- Puttur -24 km- Renigunta -11 km- Tirupathi, Pileru, Kalikiri, Vayalpad, Madanapalle, Kurabalakota, Burrakayalakotta, Kadiri, Patnam, Mudigubba, Battulapalle and Anantpur.

Road widening

Road widening Project status (June 2010) NHAI sources confirmed the awarding of Thiruninravur - Thiruttani - Tirupati (city) section, a 127 km stretch of NH-205 to be Four Laned to Transstroy -OJSC Consortium (JV) Indian-Russian, but the 22 km stretch from Padi to Thiruninravur is not going to be widened due to local municipal authorities in Ambattur, Avadi and the District authorities of Tiruvallur are unwilling to clear away encroachments. Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangankam which supports thousands of Encroachment shops on highway land sent hundreds of telegrams to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to stop the road-widening project which would have benefited millions of residents in Padi, Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Pattabiram, Thiruninravur and Tiruvallur.

The Indian Express and The Hindu sources cites that 2000 Enroachments shops managed to get priority over millions of residents suffering with everyday accidents and deaths with Government of Tamil Nadu and the road widening project in the 22 km stretch is officially DEAD. NH-205 portion from Padi to Thiruninravur is only 20 ft in some stretches due to encroachments and a max of 30 ft motorable through the entire stretch. Notable junctions like Canara Bank in Ambattur is only 20 ft. Accidents on this road have been on the rise since 2007 and fatalities are a common occurrence in this road. In 2009 alone, over 100 people have died in the stretch from Padi to Thiruninravur and 400 people injured.

NHAI sources have confirmed that the stretch from Padi to Thiruninravur is to be maintained by Chennai Public Works Department and NHAI is not accountable for that section as they have not received the support of clearing encroachments or proper drainage systems from Ambattur and Avadi Municipalities. The Hindu sources cites that local authorities in Ambattur and Avadi are supportive of the thousands of encroachment shops and are not cooperative to NHAI for the road widening project for the 22 km stretch from Padi - Thiruninravur which would benefit millions of residents along the Chennai Tiruvallur High Road corridor.

NHAI sources say that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to extend the 22 km stretch has been unsupported by Local authorities in Tiruvallur District and they have only agreed to see if the road can be extended to a 32 ft width road wherever possible as they are unwilling to clear away the encroachment shops along the 22 km stretch. NHAI sources have also confirmed that the 126 km stretch from Thiruninravur to Tirupati (city) has been entrusted to NHAI on May 2010, but the 22 km km stretch from Padi - Thiruninravur which has been much awaited by the residents along the NH-205 corridor including Kilpauk, Villivakkam, Padi, Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Pattabiram, Thiruninravur and Tiruvallur for the past 10 years is officially DEAD due to unsupportive local authorities unwilling to clear encroachment shops on highway land. The 127 km stretch is expected to be completed in 30 months by December 2012. The original width of MTH road (as per 1970 land records) is between 100 feet which has been fully encroached. In Chennai City, Padi, Korattur, Mogappair, Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Pattabiram and Thirninravur have over 33% of Chennai Population, but CTH road, which is the lifeline only has about 20–30 ft of road. Encroachments needs to be totally removed and this road to be made 100 ft or a total 30 km flyover road with 6 lanes (3 lanes on each side) with exits on all major intersections seems to the only solution in offering, rather than fighting these encroachment traders. Hindu article has stated that the local population is ready to start agitation against encroachment traders for encroaching government land and suggesting ideas that road shouldn't be extended beyond 80 ft.

Latest Development September 2012

This road is the officially the only road which has had ZERO repairs and/or maintenance work with no median, traffic signals and street lights. Tamil Nadu Highways department gave this 23 km stretch to NHAI for widening to 200 ft 6 lane highway with 4 service lanes, but unfortunately, the encroachment traders fought their way with agitations to stall this project. Lakhs and Lakhs of residents who are paying taxes are left to suffer along this MTH road. Also, the 2nd plan of elevated toll road again was again dropped, as road side encroachment traders feared loss of business as residents would take quick ride on the elevated road and not have to drive through the narrow roads as they can get business.
Either way, not sure what projects were ever implemented either by TN highways nor by NHAI, MTH road according to official CMDA records is now being shown as a 45meter road (or 150 ft)

In a little less than two decades, Tamil Nadu’s vehicle population has increased by 730% and majority suffering population is lakhs and lakhs of people living in the western part of city, particularly Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Pattabiram and Annanur and especially people driving in motorcycles. The National Highways Development Project (NHDP) created by NDA government which wanted to extend this road was dropped mercilessly by ruling UPA government to favour the encroachment traders on this road, who have brought the road down to as less as 20 ft in many areas from 100 ft, according to Tamil Nadu Government land records of 1970. In the narrow MTH road, the vehicles literally crawl during the peak hours (It takes 15 minutes to travel in NH 8 in National Capital Delhi for 23 km and in NH 205, it takes 2 hours to travel the same 23 km) and with unmotorable roads not repaired since 2005, the riders suffer from acute backache because of this. Out of 446 two-wheeler riders deaths in chennai city, more than 50% are in this 23 km stretch of MTH road, due to encroachments on both sides of road making road as small as 20 ft, unmotorable roads with no lights, no median and no traffic lights. Indian Express article quotes Stuck between officials, MTH Road to remain terrible for foreseeable future Deccan Chronicle quotes a doctor in Chennai mentioning that, In one day they get at least four to five patients who have backache because of long hours of riding two-wheelers in MTH road. With both sides of the roads encroached severely and central government dropping the plan to extend the road because of its inability to deal with encroachments, the taxpaying residents of the western part of the city are suffering with no end in sight.

NH 8 by NHAI in Capital Delhi - 23 km in 15minutes with zero encroachments vs MTH road NH205 in Tamil Nadu - 23 km in 2hours with unmotorable roads and totally ignored citizens of Tamil Nadu .

National Highway in state of Gujarat vs unmotorable NH205 MTH road with full of encroachments

Comparable crowded road with markets and other stuff in Kerala. Only difference is government removed all encroachments and set up 6 lanes with proper pedestrian sidewalks vs MTH road with full of encroachments and 20 ft only. Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam Road, Trivandrum Kerala

Technical Data

• Total Project Cost - 571.00 Cr.
• Length - 127 km
• Proposed Configuration: 4-lane flexible pavement
• Present Configuration: 2-lane flexible pavement
• Date of Agreement: 12 July 2010
• Date of Financial Closure: 16th Dec 2010

Project in Brief

Project stretch is a part of NH-205 Section which connects Tirupathi, Tiruthani and Chennai. It passes through major towns such as Tirupathi, Renigunta, Puttur, and Nagari in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and Tiruthani, Thiruvallur and Thiruninravur in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. In spite of considerable deficiencies in highway geometry, due to good pavement condition and absence of any alternate route, a substantial percentage of Passengers through traffic prefer the Stretch.