NHAI Promises Debris Removal from Odiyur Lagoon After Bridge Construction

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) assured the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal that the soil and debris dumped in the Odiyur lagoon would be removed within one month of the construction of a major bridge as part of the East Coast Road (ECR) widening project. Responding to a petition by K. Saravanan, who raised concerns about soil dumping in the eco-sensitive lagoon, NHAI stated that the alignment of the project near Odiyur had been altered to prevent any road infringement within the lake.

Despite environmentalist concerns about construction within the lagoon, NHAI emphasized the necessity of constructing a new bridge to improve road geometrics and meet speed requirements. The construction of a cofferdam, which led to the dumping of earthen materials into the lake, was deemed essential to prevent water from flowing into the foundation area during high tide. NHAI assured that the materials would be removed within one month of the bridge’s completion in January 2026.