INFLUENCE OF HIGHWAY WIDENING ON LAND USE AND LAND COVER PATTERN USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES

Abstract

India has the third largest road network globally, with national and state highways expanding rapidly in recent decades. Highway widening projects, however, face persistent challenges related to environmental concerns, funding limitations, and planning constraints. This study examines the environmental impacts of highway expansion along the Tambaram–Tindivanam stretch of NH45 in Tamil Nadu. Using remote sensing and GIS techniques, land use and land cover (LULC) changes were analyzed across five time periods (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015) using Landsat ETM+ and Landsat 8 imagery. Supervised classification and hotspot analysis revealed significant correlations between road widening and shifts in land categories, including builtup areas, forests, agricultural land, wasteland, and water bodies. Regression modelling demonstrated strong predictive capacity (R² = 0.8417), with wasteland showing a negative correlation and other land types exhibiting positive associations with expansion. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) highlighted spatial heterogeneity, confirming that highway development accelerates urbanization and alters land resources. Field surveys validated these spatial findings, underscoring the socioeconomic implications of infrastructure growth. The study concludes that highway widening substantially influences LULC dynamics, contributing to urban expansion and regional economic development. It recommends integrating ethnographic studies to assess sociocultural impacts alongside environmental evaluations, thereby ensuring balanced growth aligned with national development priorities.