National Highway 32 (India)

National Highway 32 shield}}
National Highway 32
Map of National Highway 32 in red
Route information
Length657 km (408 mi)
Major junctions
North end NH 48 in Chennai
Major intersections
List
South end NH 44 in Anjugramam
Location
CountryIndia
StatesTamil Nadu, Puducherry
Primary
destinations		Tambaram, Perungalathur, Chengalpattu, Tindivanam, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkali, Akkur, Tharangambadi, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet, Adirampattinam, Manamelkudi, Mimisal, Thondi, Devipattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Uvari,Kanyakumari
Highway system
← NH 31→ NH 33

National Highway 32 (NH 32) is a National Highway in India. It starts from Chennai and terminates at Kanyakumari. It is also known as East Coast Road.

History

Originally, the highway terminated at Nagapattinam. The highway was extended up to Thoothukudi as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 5 December 2017. The highway was further extended up to Kanyakumari in July 2022.

On 6 April 2026, a portion of a bridge spanning the Kollidam River between Kollidam and Chidambaram, along the Villupuram–Nagapattinam (NH-32) in Tamil Nadu, subsided by approximately 20 ft (6.1 m). The incident was attributed to a failure in the bridge’s foundation.

Route

The highway starting from its junction with NH-48 near Chennai connecting Chengalpattu, Tindivanam, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Akkur, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, Adirampattinam, Manamelkudi, Thondi, Devipattinam, Ramanathapuram bypass, Thiruppullani, Keelakarai, Ervadi, Valinokkam, Sayalgudi, Vembar, Vaippar, Kulathur, Veppalodai, Pattina, Maruthur, Thoothukudi, Mudivaithanendal, Tiruchendur, Kulasekharapatnam, Uvari, Kudankulam, Anjugramam and terminating at its junction with NH-44 near Karungulam .

Four-laning

National Highway 32 is being developed as a four-lane highway in multiple contract packages, including the Puducherry–Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam–Thoothukudi and Thoothukudi–Tiruchendur-Kanyakumari stretches, as part of phased corridor development along the East Coast Road to improve freight movement and regional connectivity.

See also

References

  1. ↑ MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (PDF) on 22 March 2023
  2. ↑ "Notification regarding National Highway 32" (PDF). Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Details of National Highways in Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "Portion of bridge on Villupuram-Nagapattinam national highway sinks". The Hindu. 6 April 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Anbuselvan, B. (8 April 2026). "Weak foundation led to NH-32 bridge collapse near TN's Chidambaram: Probe". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Over 700 acres to be acquired for new four lane road connecting Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Kanniyakumari - The Hindu".
  7. ↑ "Route map released for new four-lane highway linking Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Kannyakumari". DT Next. 15 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Cabinet approves four-laning of Marakkanam–Puducherry highway". The Economic Times. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Route map released for new four-lane highway linking Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Kanyakumari". DT Next. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Four-laning of road from Villupuram to Nagapattinam via Puducherry to be completed by 2025: Nitin Gadkari - The Hindu".
  11. ↑ "No, ECR widening won't finish on time. This is why". DT Next. 12 August 2024.