The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to invite bids soon for the development of three road projects in Tamil Nadu.

The three projects are expected to cut travel time to the pilgrim island of Rameswaram, by road. These are: two lane of 84 km Karaikudi-Ramanathapuram road, an extension of Tiruchi-Ramanathapuram stretch, at a cost of Rs 284 crore; four laning of 115 km Madurai-Ramanathapuram via Paramakudi with an outlay of Rs 800 crore on NH 49; and two laning of 60 km Ramanathapuram-Rameswaram with an investment of Rs 145 crore.

NHAI is executing the projects on EPC basis and has already completed other important related work, including land acquisition. The projects will be financed by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The work is expected to commence within six months and the tentative time for the project completion is 30 months.

NHAI is implementing several highway projects in Tamil Nadu to improve connectivity to Rameswaram. As part of this, the authority has so far completed work on the 90 km stretch in the two-lane highway between Tiruchi and Ramanathapuram via Karaikudi, at an estimated cost of Rs 374 crore.