Work to widen the East Coast Road (ECR) running from Villupuram to Nagapattinam is expected to be completed by October 2025. The four-lane-wide road — NH 32 (NH – 45A) — with a median and service lanes, and taken up as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Scheme, is mostly complete up to Sattanathapuram with both local motorists and long-distance travellers using it.    R. M. Swethakumar, a native of Chidambaram and one who often travels to Puducherry and Kumbakonam, said the new road has cut down travel time considerably. “I can reach Cuddalore in 30 minutes and it takes 1.5 hours to go to Villupuram. People are now reaching their destinations faster,” she said..   S. Arunachalam, who travelled to Kumbakonam recently, said he had begun using the road quite recently and found it comfortable. “The old ECR used to be narrow and certain stretches with curves were really dangerous. In the new road, some reaches, especially those atop bridges, don’t have lights. There are also vehicles like two-wheelers that come on the wrong side. More …