Tamil Nadu opens 66 km of NH-744, NH-744A roads; toll check

By R K Goyal · 12 Oct, 2026

Tamil Nadu opened 66 km of four-lane NH-744 and NH-744A corridors on 11 Oct 2026, while NHAI’s Nathampatti user-fee tender means drivers should check route access and toll updates.

Tamil Nadu opens 66 km of NH-744, NH-744A roads; toll check

Two new four-lane highway sections in Tamil Nadu are now open after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated them on 11 Oct 2026: a 30-km section of the Madurai Ring Road on NH-744A and the 36-km Vadugapatti–Therkuvenganallur section of NH-744. The opening can change route choices for drivers around Madurai, Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam, but the toll bill is not yet stated in the sources reviewed; NHAI has separately listed a user-fee collection tender for Nathampatti Fee Plaza on the NH-744 section.

Key takeaways

Two four-lane corridors covering 66 km were inaugurated in Tamil Nadu on 11 Oct 2026.
The NH-744A stretch forms part of the Madurai Ring Road; the NH-744 section includes a combined bypass for Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam.
A four-lane Thiruvarur bypass on NH-83 received a foundation stone, but it is not an open route yet.
NHAI’s official e-procurement page lists a user-fee collection tender at Nathampatti Fee Plaza, but the page does not state a customer toll rate.

What opened on 11 Oct

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Chennai programme included the inauguration of key highway projects and the foundation stone for another corridor. Independent reporting by The Times of India said the two opened four-lane highways together cover 66 km and cost ₹2,343 crore.

Corridor	Status on 11 Oct 2026	What it changes
NH-744A, Vadipatti–Thamaraipatti	30 km opened	Forms part of Madurai’s ring road and is intended to move through-traffic away from the city.
NH-744, Vadugapatti–Therkuvenganallur	36 km opened	Improves the four-lane route serving the Srivilliputhur–Rajapalayam side of Virudhunagar district.
NH-83, Thiruvarur Bypass	Foundation stone laid	Planned alternative around Thiruvarur; construction and opening dates were not announced in the sources reviewed.

For the NH-744A project, The Times of India reported an investment of ₹1,025 crore and described the corridor as a 30-km section of the Madurai Ring Road. It also reported 11 km of service roads, two flyovers, four major bridges, 29 minor bridges, a wildlife overpass and a partial cloverleaf interchange. Those features are relevant to local access: a bypass can improve through-movement without making every existing town entry interchangeable with a new highway entry.

The NH-744 section was reported at ₹1,318 crore for 36 km. The report said it includes a 28-km combined bypass for Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam, along with 17 km of service roads, two railway overbridges and 33 bus shelters. These facilities are designed to support both longer-distance traffic and local movement, but drivers should follow the signed entry and exit points rather than assume that every old junction connects directly to the new carriageway.

The toll question is still open

NHAI’s Government eProcurement System page dated 27 Sep 2026 has a separate tender for engaging a user-fee collection agency at Nathampatti Fee Plaza at km 40.450 on the Vadugapatti–Therkuvenganallur section of NH-744. The tender identifies the plaza and the section, but it does not publish a passenger-car toll amount on the page reviewed for this report.

That distinction matters. An inauguration does not by itself establish a toll rate, a vehicle-class schedule or a start date for collection. Drivers should not treat the new corridor as permanently toll-free, and they should not rely on an unverified number circulating on social media or in route listings. Once a fee is notified and the plaza becomes operational, the applicable amount can vary by vehicle class and journey rules. The toll-charge calculator can help compare the notified toll with other route options.

What it means for a road trip

The practical effect will differ by starting point. A traveller moving around Madurai may gain an alternative to city traffic on the NH-744A ring-road section. A driver heading towards Srivilliputhur or Rajapalayam may get a more continuous four-lane alignment on NH-744. A transporter may value smoother bypass movement, but exact time savings, fuel savings and operating costs were not quantified in the official announcement or the independent report reviewed here.

That is why route planning should use the actual origin, destination, vehicle and departure time rather than a headline distance alone. Check whether the map has added the new access points, compare the toll component separately and then estimate fuel use with the fuel-cost calculator. For a longer journey, the road-trip planner can help keep the route, fuel and toll assumptions together.

Thiruvarur bypass is not open yet

The Thiruvarur project has a different status from the two inaugurated stretches. The Prime Minister’s Office described it as a foundation-stone project on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of NH-83, intended to provide an alternative route around Thiruvarur. Until construction is completed and an opening is officially announced, drivers should continue to plan around the existing road network and any local traffic advisories.

What drivers should check next

Confirm that the intended NH-744 or NH-744A entry is open for your vehicle and direction of travel.
Look for the official Nathampatti Fee Plaza rate and operating notice before budgeting a toll.
Keep FASTag balance and vehicle-class details ready if the route becomes chargeable.
Recheck maps and local diversions before a trip to Madurai, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam or Thiruvarur.

Bottom line: Tamil Nadu now has two newly inaugurated four-lane corridors covering 66 km, which may give drivers more predictable bypass options around Madurai and the Virudhunagar side. The route benefit is confirmed; the toll amount is not. Plan the road and fuel cost now, then refresh the toll estimate when NHAI publishes the applicable fee.