Residents of Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam are looking forward to the early progress in the plan for widening of the East Coast Road (ECR).
The ECR is a preferred route for travellers in these two districts despite its narrow width.
According to taxi operators, the duration of travel between Nagapattinam and Chennai spanning a distance of a little over 300 km along the ECR is around six hours. By widening the road, the duration could be brought down by at least an hour, they say, explaining it will also give a fillip to tourism.
Better road connectivity will draw more number of tourists to Tranquebar, Nagore, Point Calimere and Muthupet Lagoon in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts, according to a manager of a leading hotel in Tiruvarur district.
The 20-km stretch between Akkur and Sirkazhi has been a grey area along the ECR, explained Radhakrishnan of Vedaranyam, a frequent traveller along the stretch.
The travelling public in the two districts have pinned hopes on the readiness expressed by the Central Government to convert the ECR from Chennai to Kanyakumari into a four-lane road.
According to an official, the Centre has sought the cooperation of the State Government for widening ECR from Chennai to Kanyakumari under the Bharat Mala Project.
