CHENNAI: The Centre has allocated Rs 1.03 lakh crore for road projects in TN, nearly triple the Rs 29,000 crore sanctioned in Budget 2020-21. Among projects to be implemented on priority in 2021 is the much opposed Chennai-Salem corridor.
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has planned projects covering a total 3,500km of TN roads.
Funds have been sanctioned for major projects along economic corridors and the east coast, including Chennai-Bengaluru expressway (278km), Maduravoyal-Port elevated corridor (19km), Chennai-Salem corridor (277km) and East Coast Road (ECR) expansion. Other projects include the Madurai-Kollam (150km) and Chittoor-Thatchur (115km) road work.
The Centre also sanctioned ₹65,000 crore for highway work in Kerala. This includes the 600km Kanyakumari-Mumbai corridor, of which 75km would fall within TN.
“Land acquisition for Chennai-Bengaluru expressway is nearing completion and tenders were floated for all four packages, so construction is expected to begin soon. We will start working on the Maduravoyal project after some design tweaks. Salem corridor is in the initial stage,” said a senior official at NHAI Chennai office.
Calling the bumper allocation a gimmick ahead of state elections, former Union highways minister T R Baalu of the DMK said, “All these announcements will remain only on paper as several land disputes are still pending at various courts. The Centre has once again come out with impractical projects for the sake of elections.”
Stakeholders, however, welcomed the allocation. “We hope NHAI utilises these funds effectively to finish pending work too as none of the major highway projects, including expansion of Chennai-Tada, Salem-Ulundurpet and Chennai-Trichy, has been completed,” said S Yuvaraj of Tamil Nadu Truck Owners Association. NHAI collects nearly ₹820 crore user fee every year in TN.