Tamil Nadu budget: Rs 200 crore for Chennai Peripheral Road plan

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for the first phase of Chennai Peripheral Road (CPR) proposed to connect Ennore Port with Thatchur on National Highway 5.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced in the Assembly that the Union government has accorded approval for developing the peripheral road project at a cost of Rs 12,301 crore. “Work on phase one of the proposed Chennai Peripheral Road, namely Northern Port Access Road from Ennore Port and Thatchur on NH 5, will commence shortly. An amount of Rs 200 crore has been allotted for the project,” Panneerselvam said.

The 129-km CPR is aimed at decongesting northern parts of Chennai Industrial Corridor.
The project is to be implemented by Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Company (TNRIDC), a highways wing of State government and funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency. The proposed road has been divided into five sections. The first involves Ennore Port to Thatchur (25.50km), second from Thatchur on NH-5 to the start of Tiruvallur bypass (26.25 km) and the third from the start of Tiruvallur bypass to Sriperumbudur on NH-4 (29.55 km).

The other two sections are from Sriperumbudur on NH-4 to Singaperumalkoil on NH-45 and Singaperumalkoil to Mahabalipuram on the East Coast Road. The six-lane road proposed with service lanes on both sides will pass through Poonjeri, Singaperumal Koil, Tiruvallur, Thamaraipakkam, Panchetti and Ennore. “The land acquisition works for the phase one between Ennore Port and Thatchur have started and the work will commence soon,” said official sources.

Panneerselvam said under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (CRIDP), 1,000-km of roads are proposed to be widened and 4,000-km-road will be improved in 2018-19. In addition, under the programme to upgrade rural roads, 2,500 km of road works will be taken at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore, Panneerselvam said.

Flood management plan ready for city
Chennai: The State has turned to the Centre for assistance on a flood management plan for the city. Panneerselvam said a comprehensive plan for North Chennai and South Chennai had been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 2,055.67 cr and Rs 1,243.15 cr  respectively. He added that an integrated harbour and fish processing park will come up at Thengappattinam in Kanniyakumari district

Overall

•  Total revenue target for 2017-18 reduced to L1.55 lakh cr against Rs 1.59 lakh cr
•  Revenue deficit increases to Rs 18,370 cr against Rs 15,000 cr
•  State government’s revenue at Rs 1.81 lakh cr. Expenditure is Rs 2.04 lakh cr. Deficit Rs 23,176 cr
•  Central tax pegged at Rs 31,707 cr
•  State’s fiscal deficit reduced from Rs 41,977 cr to Rs 23,176 cr
•  TN economic growth expected at 9% in 2018-19
•  Government employees’ salary expenditure at Rs 52,171 cr

Local body polls

•   Allotted Rs 172.27 cr

Education

•   Higher Education Rs 4,620 cr
•   Rs 250 cr sanctioned for Annamalai University as grant
•   School infrastructure Rs 200 cr
•   School education Rs 27,205 cr
•   Youth Welfare gets Rs 191 cr
•   Presidency, Queen Mary’s Colleges renovation at Rs 26 cr

Social welfare & Healthcare

•   Social Welfare gets Rs 5,611 cr
•   Marriage Assistance scheme gets Rs 724 cr allocation
•   Rs 60.58 cr allocated for napkin distribution
•   Rs 109 cr allocated for Sri Lankan refugees welfare
•   345 MBBS seats to be created in State
•   A state fund of Rs 10 cr for the disabled

Water Resources and Irrigation

•       Kudi Maramatthu to be continued this year too; Rs 300 crore allocated
•       Check dams to be constructed at a cost of Rs 250 crore
•       Athikadavu-Avinashi drinking water/ irrigation scheme allocated Rs 1789 crore