Centre to invest Rs 33000 crore in Road Projects in Tamil Nadu

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the total investment by Government of India in Tamil Nadu under various phases of National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) is in the order of Rs.33,000 crore and so far nearly a sum of Rs.13,000 crore has already been invested.

He said this while inaugurating and dedicating to the nation, the 21-km long four-laned Padalur-Samayapuram stretch at Samayapuram in Tiruchirapalli today. Built at a cost of Rs. 110 crore, this stretch is part of one of the four-laning projects undertaken on Tindivanam-Tiruchirappalli section of NH-45 in Tamil Nadu. NH-45 is traversing across the State of Tamil Nadu connecting Chennai to Kanyakumari and also the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor. Thiru Baalu hoped that upgradation of this stretch would improve the connectivity of all parts of the country with the remote Southern Region.

This 21-km long stretch includes one major bridge over Uppar River, one minor bridge and 21 culverts which have been constructed to have the carriageway of four-lane configuration. Thiru Baalu said that the stretch would result in reduction in travel time, savings in vehicle operation cost and it would be of immense benefit for business, farmers, travellers and local public.

Giving details of various road sector project in Tamil Nadu, Thiru Baalu said that Tamil Nadu is served by 4,676- km length of National Highways out of which, 3,261 kms have been taken up by the NHAI for four-laning under the NHDP and other projects. The Golden Quadrilateral length of 342 kms under NHDP Phase-I in Tamil Nadu has been upgraded to four-lane facility at a cost Rs.1,710 crore.

The Minister further said that under NHDP Phase-II, which is also known as the North-South Corridor, out of the approved length of 756 kms, 436-km length has been widened to four-lanes, works of four-laning in 15 packages covering 238-km length are in progress and preparation of feasibility report in the remaining 82-km length is under progress. This corridor traversing through Krishnagiri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu connects Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border at Hosur with Kanniyakumari. The estimated investment under NHDP Phase–II in Tamil Nadu is Rs.4, 280 crore.

Thiru Baalu added that works in 517-km length in six packages are under implementation under NHDP Phase-III which covers 1,464-km length of various National Highways in Tamil Nadu. For NHDP Phase –III, the investment is likely to be Rs.9,880 crore. A total length of 1,232-km in Tamil Nadu has been included under NHDP Phase IV-A, with an investment of Rs.2, 464 crore, for improvement to 2-lane with paved shoulders, he added.

Other Projects in Tamil Nadu cover four-laning of 422-km length of NH-45 and NH-45B with an estimated cost of Rs.2,530 crore from Chennai to Madurai via Tiruchirapalli, in which works in 306-km length have already been completed and works in remaining 116-km length are in progress, the Minister informed.

Referring to the developmental works undertaken by his Ministry in the Chennai City, he said that Chennai has been given due priority in our programme of improvement. Four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I, the flyover at Chennai Airport and the Grade separator at Kathipara, construction of two more grade separators at Koyambedu and Padi as well as four- laning of Koyambedu-Maduravoyal section of NH-4 within Chennai City also form part of the improvement of access facilities to the Golden Quadrilateral Corrdior. These access facilities will cost Rs.800 crore.

Giving information about some other projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Thiru Baalu said that construction of ROB at Lalapet on NH-67 is nearing completion, improvement of Karur-Coimbatore Section of NH-67 is targeted for completion by March next year. He said that construction of bypasses, ring roads, grade separated intersections and flyovers are being considered under NHDP Phase VII, similarly, Ring roads around Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and the Elevated link road to Chennai Port are proposed under NHDP Phase-VII.

Apart from the Union Minister Thiru T.R.Baalu, Ministers of Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru K.N. Nehru, Thiru N. Selvaraj, and Member of Parliament Thiru L. Ganesan, participated in the function.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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