Last Update: February 12, 2023, 14:36 IST
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (file photo)
He added that the section “provides vital connectivity to the city of Chennai and its ports to industrial clusters at Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Hosur and Krishnagiri”.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written a letter to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Highlighted the poor condition of the existing road section from Chennai to Ranipet (NH-4) on Saturday.
He pointed to a recent request made by Lok Sabha member Dayanidhi Maran in Parliament on the same issue and said, “The condition of the road is so bad that I had to plan my recent trips to some districts by train. He added that the section “provides vital connectivity to the city of Chennai and its ports to industrial clusters at Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Hosur and Krishnagiri”.
Quoting Gadkari’s reply, he wrote, “Though our MP’s request on this important road was very specific, we were disappointed by your reply which was very general and non-committal.”
There is a perception that the Government of Tamil Nadu was not cooperating with the National Highway Authority India The answer to the (NHAI) has been made in Parliament, he said.
Detailing the Tamil Nadu government’s steps regarding various projects, Stalin said, “With all such sincere efforts by the government, it was unfortunate that the state government was not cooperating with the NHAI in your reply to the Parliament.”
“I assure you that this is not true and we are trying our best to expedite all major infrastructure projects without discriminating between projects undertaken by state and central governments.”
The Chief Minister referred to the Chennai port for the Maduravoyal elevated expressway project and said it has been revived by giving all possible help, including waiver of royalty on aggregates.
Similar concessions, which were never given in the past, have been extended to other major NHAI projects as well. Based on the request from the Centre, the validity of soil/gravel permit has been extended from 3 months to 1 year with effect from 9th May, 2022.
A special cell has been set up at the state headquarters to monitor land acquisition for highway projects. Stalin said the permissions of the forest department were also being reviewed and “as per my knowledge, no major NHAI project has been held up due to lack of such permissions.”
Regular monitoring of the progress of land acquisition and loan land approvals is being done by the District Collectors from the Chief Secretary level. Other requests for providing borrowed soil free of cost by waiving material cost, royalty and seignorage charges are also under consideration.
Stalin requested Gadkari to instruct his department officials to look into the “very specific request raised by our MP”. The road that has been pointed out to be expanded is the Sriperumbudur to Walajapet section of NH-4 where the six-laning work is underway. work is going on. The work has been stopped due to contractual issues between the contractors and NHAI and hence the condition of the existing road is very bad.
(With PTI inputs)
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