Constructed as part of the National Highway Development Project to decongest the city of transiting vehicles, the expressway interconnects NH-32, NH-48, NH-716 and NH-16.

The first phase is a 19 km (12 mi) six-lane fully access controlled carriageway from Perungalathur on the Grand Southern Trunk Road (NH 32) to Maduravoyal which lies on the Chennai–Bangalore NH-48.

The road runs through Thiruneermalai, Pammal, Anakaputhur, Tharapakkam, Kovur, Porur, Vanagaram to reach Maduravoyal.

There are a clover-leaf grade separator at Maduravoyal Junction and a trumpet interchange at Puzhal where the bypass phase II ends.

A 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) elevated six-lane corridor forms the part of Phase II being executed currently.[when?]