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{{short description|Road in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{multiple issues|
{{essay-like|date=August 2012}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2010}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox road
| name = East Coast Road
| country = IND
| type =
| route =
| state = Tamil Nadu
| maint = [[Department of Highways and Minor Ports (Tamil Nadu)|Highways Department, Tamil Nadu]], [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI), Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC)
| map = East coast road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.svg
| map_notes = '''East Coast Road''' highlighted in black
| length_km = 777
| direction_a =
| terminus_a = [[Chennai]]
| junction =
| direction_b =
| terminus_b = [[Kanyakumari]]
| districts = [[Chennai district|Chennai]], [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]], [[Viluppuram district|Vilupuram]], [[Puducherry district|Pondicherry]], [[Cuddalore]], [[Karaikal]], [[Nagapattinam District|Nagapattinam]], [[Tiruvarur district|Tiruvarur]], [[Thanjavur District|Thanjavur]], [[Pudukkottai district|Pudukottai]], [[Ramanathapuram District|Ramanathapuram]], [[Tuticorin District|Thoothukudi]], [[Tirunelveli District|Tirunelveli]], [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]]
| alternate_name = ECR
| states = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| cities = [[Chennai]], [[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]], [[Cuddalore]], [[Chidambaram]], [[Karaikal]], [[Nagapattinam]], [[Thiruthuraipoondi]], [[Muthupet]], [[Adirampattinam]], [[Ramanathapuram]], [[Tuticorin]], [[Tiruchendur]], [[Uvari]], [[Kanyakumari]].
}}

'''East Coast Road''' ('''ECR'''), combination of '''SH-49, NH-332A, NH-32''', officially known as '''Mutthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Road''', is a two-lane highway (now being partially widened to four lanes from [[Chennai]] to [[Mamallapuram]]) in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], built along the [[Coromandel Coast|Bay of Bengal coast]] . It connects Tamil Nadu's state capital [[Chennai]] with [[Kanyakumari]] via [[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]], [[Cuddalore]], [[Chidambaram]], [[Sirkali]], [[Akkur, Nagapattinam]], [[Thirukkadaiyur]], [[Tharangambadi]], [[Karaikal]], [[Nagore]], [[Nagapattinam]], [[Thiruthuraipoondi]], [[Muthupet]], [[Adirampattinam]], [[Manora Fort, Thanjavur|Manora]], [[Manamelkudi]], [[Mimisal]], [[Ramanathapuram]], [[Thoothukudi]], [[Thiruchendur|Tiruchendur]], [[Uvari]], [[Kudankulam]].<ref name="ex1">{{Cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/chennaikanyakumari-ecr-to-be-converted-into-fourlane-road/article7249545.ece | title=ECR to be converted into four lane road | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=14 April 2016| date=2015-05-26 | author=Staff Reporter }}</ref> The total length of the road is about 777 km between Chennai and Kanyakumari.

ECR once existed from [[Chennai]] to [[Puducherry district|Puducherry]], later it has been extended to [[Cuddalore]] and then to [[Nagapattinam]] and then [[Thoothukudi|Tuticorin]] via [[Ramanathapuram]] and finally up to [[Kanyakumari]].

The highway is a [[State highways in India|state highway]] maintained by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] under the [[Department of Highways and Minor Ports (Tamil Nadu)|Department of Highways and Minor Ports]] and Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation (TNRIDC). It was a two-lane highway, and has plans to widen into four-lane divided highway till [[Kanyakumari]]. It is the most preferred alternate route for southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

The [[Chennai]] neighbourhoods on ECR are [[Thiruvanmiyur]], [[Kottivakkam]], [[Palavakkam]], [[Neelankarai]], [[Injambakkam]], Panaiyur, Uthandi, Muttukadu, [[Covelong]] and Vilambur.

== History ==
Prior to its completion, the East Coast Road mainly consisted of village roads. The connecting link then was the [[Old Mahabalipuram Road]] (SH-49A) till [[Mahabalipuram]]. [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]] was reached from Chennai through the still existent route via [[Tambaram]], [[Tindivanam]] along [[NH45]]. In 2000, the State government signed a concessionaire agreement with the TNRDC in order to improve the road, at a cost of [[Indian rupee|{{INR}}]] 60 [[crore]].<ref name="pppsh">{{cite web|url=http://infrastructure.gov.in/pdf/Compendium_State_Highways.pdf|title=Compendium PPP Projects in State Highways|publisher=Infrastructure India|access-date=29 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425145038/http://infrastructure.gov.in/pdf/Compendium_State_Highways.pdf|archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> The 113-km long stretch from Akkarai to Pondicherry, dotted with resorts and beach houses, became a toll facility in March 2002 and was widened into a two-lane road from a small winding road passing through 154 villages.<ref name="ECRSetToExpand">{{cite news | last = Ramakrishnan | first = Deepa H. | title = After a decade on fast lane, ECR is set to expand | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | date = 23 February 2012 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2922388.ece | access-date = 26 Feb 2012}}</ref>

In 2010, TNRDC announced that toll collections had reached an all-time high at {{INR}} 1.08 crore in December 2009 against the {{INR}} 54.67 lakh collected in April 2002 when toll operations started.<ref name="alltimehigh">{{cite news|title=Monthly toll collection on ECR touches all-time high |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article676131.ece|first=Deepa|last=Ramakrishnan|date=3 January 2010|agency=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|access-date=2012-08-25}}</ref>

== Four laning ECR ==

The ECR starts at [[Thiruvanmiyur]] in Chennai and is a part of the Chennai City roads till Uthandi. From Uthandi the beachway section starts as a toll road. The speed of the vehicles on this road is restricted to a maximum of 80 km/h. The State Government widened most of East Coast Road to a four lane divided, open access highway by 2015.

The ECR was made a toll road in April 2002. The ECR till Hanumanthai near [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]] is 113.2 km long and has a total of 22 bends. On an average 10,000 passenger car units (PCUs) use the road during rush hour and a total of 40,000 PCUs daily, up from about 5,000 daily before the construction of the road. The process of acquiring land for widening the 11.4-km stretch from [[Thiruvanmiyur]] to Akkarai covering six revenue villages (including Thiruvanmiyur, [[Kottivakkam]], [[Palavakkam]], [[Neelankarai]], [[Injambakkam]] and [[Vettuvankani]]), which is under the control of the Highways Department, is under way.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2477401.ece Report for immediate ECR 4-laning till Mamallapuram]</ref> The stretch currently has width varying between 50 ft and 80 ft. After widening at a sanctioned cost of {{INR}} 3,540 million, the stretch would be uniformly {{convert|30.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide and would have six lanes, a 1.2-m-wide median, footpath-cum-stormwater drain. ECR extends up to Hanumanthai. On the way to Hanumanthai, a famous location Marakkanam is situated. On the ECR road right side famous Bhoomiswarar Temple is situated. It is believed that Sri Bhoomiswara is the God for Bhoomi, hence, many perform pooja before buying land placing the sale agreement on his holy feet. Hence real estate promoters also rush to this location.<ref>{{cite news | last = Ramakrishnan | first = Deepa H.
| title = ECR widening work to start next year | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | date = 22 June 2012 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3555793.ece?homepage=true | access-date = 22 Jun 2012}}</ref>

== Places of interest ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align =
| header_background =
| footer = The ECR before 2012; some parts remain 2 lanes.
| footer_align = 
| footer_background =
| width =
| background color =
| image1 = East Coast Road Chennai.jpg
| width1 = 200
| alt1 =
| image2 = East coast road.jpg
| width2 = 200
| alt2 =
}}
*'''[[Marundeeswarar Temple]]'''- Located about 4 km from Adyar and is one of the temples on the East Coast Road. Technically, this marks the beginning of the coastal road.
*'''[[Sholinganallur Prathyangira Devi Temple]]''' – The temple is located close to the junction and halfway down the link road of ECR and OMR. The Goddess, Shri Maha Prathyangira Devi is throned, gigantic and powerful. Regular [[poojas]] are offered every day and special poojas during festive season.
* '''[[Cholamandal Artists' Village]]''' – Founded in 1966, by [[K.C.S. Paniker]], now an art destination in the state.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
*'''[[Dakshinchitra|DakshinaChitra]]''' – It is a center for the traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on the traditions of South India. A project of the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), a non-profit organisation. DakshinaChitra opened to the public in December 1996. The center occupies ten acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road.
*'''[[Muttukadu boat house]]''' – Located at 23 km from Adayar, this area is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, and offers rowing, wind surfing, water skiing, and speedboat riding.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
*'''[[Thameemul Ansari|Thameem Ansari Darga]]''' – Located at Kovalam or Covelong is a Muslim shrine.
*'''[[Covelong]]''' – Located at 26 km from Adayar, this bay is the site of a colonial Dutch Fort, and a fishing village with wind surfing opportunities.
*'''[[Tiger Cave (India)|Tiger Cave]]''' – ancient place with large rocks located before five kilometres from Mamallapuram.
*'''[[Thiruvidandai]]''' – One of the 108 important places of vaishnavites, this small hamlet houses the temple of Nithyakalyana perumal.
*'''[[Madras Crocodile Bank Trust]] – Center for herpetology'''
*'''[[Mahabalipuram]]''' – A UNESCO World Heritage Site with Pallava sculptures and shore temples.
*'''[[Kalpakkam]]''' - India's 1st indigenously built Nuclear powerplant present here.
*'''[[Sadras]]''' – A Dutch fort that is in ruins now. First battle between the British and the Dutch was fought here.
*'''[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]''' is a Union Territory of India. It is a former French colony, consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or regions, and named after the largest region, [[Pondicherry district|Pondicherry]]. The territory was officially known as Pondicherry until 2006 when it was renamed Puducherry.
*'''[[Cuddalore]]''' – Cuddalore, is a municipality in Cuddalore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu also the 1st capital of Tamil Nadu during the British government rule. [[Thiruvanthipuram]], [[Thirupathiripuliyur]] temples and [[Silver Beach (India)|Silver Beach]] are located in Cuddalore
*'''[[Chidambaram]]''' - The World famous Chidambaram Nataraja Hindu Temple - [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Nataraja Temple]] is Located in this town which comes under Cuddalore District. Near by [[Pichavaram Mangrove Forest|Pichavaram Mangrove forest]] is located which is the largest mangrove forest of Tamil Nadu and also a famous tourist spot.
*'''[[Alamparai Fort]]''' – is the ruins of an old Moghul fort which was destroyed by the British in the 1700s.
*'''[[Tharangambadi]]''' – is a town in the Nagapattinam district. It was a Danish colony from 1620 to 1845, and in Danish it is still known as Trankebar/Tranquebar. Danish Museum, [[New Jerusalem Church, Tranquebar|New Jerusalem Church]], [[Fort Dansborg]] were situated here.
*'''[[Karaikal]]''' – Karaikal is a port city in the Union Territory of Puducherry. It is a former French colony. Nearby the famous Hindu temple for Lord Saneeshvara which is located at [[Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple|Thirunallaru]].
*'''[[Nagore]]''' -Nagore is a town in the Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located approximately 12 km south of Karaikal and 5 km north of Nagapattinam. Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai are nearby towns. It has a population of approximately 30,000.
*'''[[Velankanni]]''' -Velankanni has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY – Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of the Government of India.
*'''[[Thiruthuraipoondi]] -''' Thiruthuraipoondi is a major town in Thiruvarur District and has a taluk on its own. It is situated 27 km from Thiruvarur.
*[[Muthupet Dargah|'''Muthupet'''-]] Muthupet is a small panchayat town in Thiruthuraipoondi Taluk of Thiruvarur District. It is situated 53 km from Thiruvarur.
*'''Mallipattinam ([[Manora Fort, Thanjavur|Manora Fort]])''' – Mallipattinam is a coastal village of [[Pattukkottai]] in Thanjavur District with a fort.
*'''[[Adhirampattinam]] Beach'''-Adhirampattinam is [[Thanjavur district]] is important costal town connecting chennai to thoothukudi through east coast road.
*'''[[Sethubavachathram]] Beach'''-Sethubavachatram is important for fishing in thanjavur district
*'''[[Manamelkudi]] beach''' -manamelkudi is a coastal village of Pudukkottai District with a kodiyakadu beach.
*'''[[Mimisal]] Beach'' Mimisal is a coastal village of Pudhukottai District with GPM beach
*'''[[Thondi]]''' - Famous for Beach and nearby mangrove forest. One of the Historic town of Tamil Nadu, This town acted as [[Pandya dynasty|Pandian Dynasty's]] Port.
*'''[[Ramanathapuram]]''' – hosts the Raja Palace. Famous Tourist places Nearby are [[Rameswaram]], [[Devipattinam]], [[Kilakarai|keezhakarai]], [[Paramakudi]], [[Dhanushkodi]], etc.
*'''[[Erwadi|Erwadi Dargah]]''' – hosts an Islamic shrine of Ramanathapuram district.
*'''[[Thoothukudi]]''' – Thoothukudi also known as Tuticorin, is a port city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.
*'''[[Thiruchendur]]''' – A famous Murugan Temple Located in this town which comes under Thoothukudi District
*'''[[Kulasekharapatnam|Kulasekharapattinam]]''' - Famous for Dhasara(navarathri) Festival and also upcoming [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO's]] second space port which comes under Tuticorin District
*[[Uvari]] - The ancient and famous Shiva temple Uvari Suyambulingaswamy temple is located in this village. RC Christian Churches ( St.Antony's Major Shrine & Selvamatha Church (Kappal Matha Church) are also located here.
*'''[[Kudankulam]]''' - India's largest atomic power station ([[Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant]]) is located here. It comes under Tirunelveli district
*'''[[Vattakottai Fort]]''' – Vattakottai Fort was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom
*'''[[Kanyakumari ]]''' – It is the southernmost city of peninsular/contiguous India and is a popular tourist destination

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Transport in Chennai]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703134041/http://www.tnrdc.com/ecrproject.asp TamilNadu Roadways Corporation site on ECR]
*[http://tnrdc.com/toll-rates/ ECR Toll Rates]
{{Roads of Chennai}}
{{Tamil Nadu Highway Network}}
{{Transport in Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Roads in Puducherry]]
[[Category:Roads in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:State highways in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Scenic roads in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Transport in Kanyakumari]]
[[Category:Transport in Puducherry]]

East Coast Road - Revision history

Asissantra at 04:44, 2 February 2026