East Coast Road

East Coast Road (ECR) (Tamil: கிழக்கு கடற்கரை சாலை) is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet, Adirampattinam, Meemisal, Thondi, Ramnad. The total length of the road is 690 km from Chennai to Thoothukudi, but as of now work has almost completed till Ramnad, remaining 200 km work on pending.

History

Prior to its completion, the East Coast Road mainly consisted of village roads connecting one fishermen hamlet to another. The vital connecting link then was the Old Mahabalipuram Road till Mahabalipuram. Pondicherry was reached from Chennai through the still existent and busy route via Tindivanam along NH-45.

ECR today

The ECR starts at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai and is a part of the Chennai City roads till Uthandi. From Uthandi starts the scenic 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 is keen on expediting the proposal for four-laning of the East Coast Road (ECR). The State Highways Department is in the process of seeking certain geometrical changes in the present alignment of the ECR as a measure to reduce the number of fatal accidents.^[1]

The ECR was made a toll road in April 2002. The ECR till Hanumanthai near Pondicherry is 113.2 km long and has a total of 22 bends. On an average 12,000 vehicles use the road 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, which is under the control of the Highways Department, is under way.^[2]

Places of interest

• Marundeeswarar Temple- Located about 4 km from Adayar 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 half way 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 important art destination in the state.

• DakshinaChitra - It is a center for the living 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 undulating acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road.

• Muttukadu - Located at 23 km from Adayar, this backwater area is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, and offers rowing, wind surfing, water skiing, and speedboat riding.

• Thameem Ansari Baba Darga - Located at Kovalam or Covelong is a famous Muslim shrine. Thameem Ansari, a devoted follower of the words and deeds of Prophet Mohamed was born in Medina. Soon after his demise, and as per his last wish, his mortal remains were put in a coffin and immersed in the sea. However, it reached the shores of Kovalam beach. Thus came into being the holy shrine of the Muslim Saint Thameem Ansari Baha. The first Thursday after full moon day is observed as a day of devotion. The Durgah is open from 5.00 a.m to 10.00 p.m.

• 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 - 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 - The brainchild of Romulus Whittaker, the acknowledged specialist on reptiles, this centre has gained fame as an endeavour for the preservation and propagation of endangered species of crocodiles. The centre also houses a large variety of snakes.

• Mahabalipuram - An UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its Pallava sculptures and the shore temples.

• Pondicherry- (Tamil: புதுச்சேரி Putuccēri; French: Poudouchéry) 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. The territory was officially known as Pondicherry until 2006 when it was renamed Pondicherry.

• Cuddalore - Kadalur, is a Municipal Corporation in Cuddalore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thiruvanthipuram, Thirupathiripuliyur temples and Silver Beach are located in Cuddalore

• Alamparai Fort - is the ruins of an old Moghul fort which was destroyed by the British in the 1700s. Although it is now an archeological site, it has spectacular views of the backwaters and a picturesque place to visit.

• Karaikal - Karaikal is a port city in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is a former French colony. Karaikal port is also expected to provide an alternative to the Chennai and Tuticorin ports, which are the major ports in the coastline but are separated by long distance. Further, Karaikal is in the middle of the Tamil Nadu coast, midway between the two deepwater ports of Chennai and Tuticorin.

• Vedaranyam - Kodikkarai (Point Calimere) - Vedaranyam is a coastal Town of Nagai Dt. From ECR, this beautiful temple town may be reached by branching from Velankanni or from Thiruthuraipundi. Kodikkarai is a wonderland of natural resources (Deer Sanctuary, Migratory Bird watch.)

• Ramanathapuram - Tourists visit Ramnad to see the Raja Palace, still occupied by the former Sethupaty Raja and his family. Although no longer in power, the family contributes to the community by setting up schools and hospitals. Ramanathapuram is close to Rameshwaram and Devipattinam, both important pilgrimage centres..

• Tuticorin - Thoothukudi (Tamil: தூத்துக்குடி), 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.

References

External links

• A Travel Essay on the less travelled portion of ECR
• TamilNadu Roadways Corporation site on ECR
• ECR Toll Rates