The State Highways Department has launched the widening of the Vellore-Tirupattur main road (SH-122) to a four-lane stretch at Abdullapuram, near the under-construction airport in Vellore.

The expansion will provide an alternative route for travellers, allowing them to bypass the busy Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 48), particularly benefitting small towns and farming villages along the way. The project, funded under the Chief Minister's Road Development Plan (CMRDP) 2024-25, aims to improve traffic flow for heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries. At a cost of Rs 50 crore, the work will span 79.5 km, with eight km being widened from seven mtrs. to 10 mtrs.

The project includes 21 minor bridges, bus bays, stormwater drains, safety features like CCTV cameras, and more. It is expected to be completed by 2026. However, 622 trees will be uprooted for the work, and several electrical poles and transformers will be relocated.