Chennai: More than 20 buildings encroaching the banks of Cooum River in Arumbakkam were bulldozed on Thursday to make way for the 20.9 km long Port-Maduravoyal corridor.The state highways department deployed two earth movers to bulldoze the structures with protection from 100 police personnel. The buildings, mostly commercial, were encroaching the river banks for nearly two decades.Highways officials said about 200 metres of length and 50 metres breadth were retrieved so far. By the end of the day, more than 50 encroachments were yet to be removed. The drive is likely to continue until the weekend, official said.The project is being carried out by the NHAI, and the state highways department will help local enforcement, he said. “Pillars for the double-decker corridor will come up in the reclaimed spot,” an official said. In the remaining part of the river, NHAI plans to procure land from private entities. Out of the 20.9 km project, nearly 15.5 km will be an elevated corridor on the river, while the rest will be on land. All the soil tests and piling work were completed in most upstream areas.Out of the 650 pillars, 525 will be on the river, he said.From Koyambedu to Maduravoyal, NHAI has cordoned off about 10 feet on either side of the Poonamallee High Road to carry out construction works for the double-decker corridors. The older pillars, which were constructed in 2009, are likely to be demolished for newer ones.NHAI is also carrying out piling and foundation works in downstream areas like Chetpet, Egmore, and Chindadripet. An MoU for the project was signed in 2022. The work is expected to be completed by 2027. Meanwhile, after years of delay, the widening of the Pallavaram–Kundrathur–Poonamallee Road gained momentum as encroachments were cleared at Karima Nagar. Houses built illegally along the roadside, obstructing traffic flow, were demolished, triggering protests from residents.Police and revenue officials intervened to pacify the crowd. The 13.4-km road connects GST Road near Pallavaram to Poonamallee via Kundrathur and is a key link between Chennai’s southern and western suburbs. Once widened, the corridor is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve connectivity for thousands of daily commuters. Further eviction drives will follow in phases, said Kundrathur municipality officials.