PWD minister E V Velu on Wednesday asserted that DMK govt was extending full support for implementation of Centre’s ₹3,570 crore Port Maduravoyal elevated expressway, signing the ‘state support agreement’.
The project, initiated by Congress-led UPA regime, was suspended by J Jayalalithaa regime in 2012.
Responding to a special calling attention motion moved by KMDK MLA E R Eswaran, Velu said 812 out of 5,296 piles and 41 out of 882 pile caps were built so far. Due to the National Green Tribunal’s order, the work could not continue for three months during the monsoon last year.
‘To speed up the project, I have been continuously conducting review meetings with NHAI, water resources department (WRD), traffic, Tangedco, police, Greater Chennai Corporation, TN urban habitat development board, Indian navy, and contractors to sort out the issues,’ he said. Superstructures of the project are being built in two separate casting yards, and 14 out of 9,415 numbers have been completed so far.
Though the work order was issued by the NHAI in November 2023, the minister said the site was handed over only in May last year owing to issues raised by the WRD.
‘The project is above river Cooum for 15 km and work is going on after obtaining a no-objection certificate from the WRD,’ Velu said, hinting at resettlement of people living on the banks and shifting of power utilities.
Eswaran said ‘The project should be named after former CM M Karunanidhi and should be expanded from Poonamallee to Outer Ring Road,’ he said.