Minister for Port M. Kandasamy on Thursday said the concerns expressed by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on the port project are “unfounded.”
Talking to reporters after inspecting the port, he said the Lt. Governor had raised doubts about the government’s preparedness in operating the port.
On her criticism about lack of road linking the port, he said the road adjacent to the port which leads to Marappalam junction would be used for cargo movement. The Public Works Department had been asked to widen narrow stretches of the road. Since the cargo movement was restricted to night hours, the port operationalisation would not lead to traffic jams as expressed by the Lt. Governor, he said.
After signing the agreement, Chennai Port Trust (CPT) had appointed a Deputy Chief Engineer to oversee day-to-day functions. In the days to come, more officers would be posted by CPT, he said.
‘File returned’
About the vacancy of Port Director, he said the Union Ministry of Shipping had invited applications but did not get a proper response. After that, the territorial administration had put up a file for appointing a retired officer as director but it was rejected by the Lt Governor, he said.
The government had taken up the project to provide employment and bring more revenue to the exchequer. “Hence, we are determined to provide all requirements to make the project a success,” he said.
Mr. Kandasamy said a few people who had personal interest in stalling the project had been raking up unnecessary controversy.
He alleged that Ms. Bedi had been opposing the project as she was not present when the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Chennai Port Trust and Puducherry government in New Delhi. So too was the reason for her opposition to the airport, he said.
Local MLAs A. Anbalagan and T. Djeamourth accompanied the Minister.