The Union Cabinet has cleared a Rs?18.53?billion plan to upgrade 46.7?kilometres of National Highway?87 between Paramakudi and Ramanathapuram to four lanes. At present, this section is a two lane bottleneck that links Madurai, Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi, and regularly suffers jams and accidents.
Scheduled to be built under the Hybrid?Annuity?Mode, the new highway will intersect five other national highways (NH 38, 85, 36, 536 and 32) and three state highways (SH 47, 29 and 34). It will also strengthen multi modal links to Madurai and Rameshwaram railway stations, Madurai Airport, and the minor ports at Pamban and Rameshwaram.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini?Vaishnaw said construction will create roughly 0.84?million direct and 1.045?million indirect person days of work. By easing congestion, the corridor is expected to lift regional trade, bolster tourism to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi, and open new avenues for industrial growth in southern Tamil?Nadu.
The National Highways Authority of India began preparatory works in late?2024, responding to long standing local demands for safer, faster travel along this vital coastal route. Once finished, the widened highway should cut journey times, improve road safety and support the state’s wider economic ambitions.
