Tamil Nadu yet to decide on Chennai-Salem expressway

CHENNAI: Even as state highways minister E V Velu openly stated that the DMK government was not against the Chennai-Salem greenfield corridor project and that it only wanted consultation with the farmers to resolve all the issues, the project remains in limbo for want of clearance from the state government.
The NHAI could not take up assessments on socio-economic or environmental impact despite the Supreme Court giving its nod to carry forward the project.
In the Rajya Sabha, Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, has denied receiving any official communication from the DMK government in the state, either rejecting or opposing the 274-km long Chennai-Salem greenfield corridor project, citing environmental concerns and stiff opposition by the farmers and farm labourers. The multi-crore road project was pushed by former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The Union minister was responding to a query from PMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss recently. In another reply to MDMK chief Vaiko, the Union minister listed Chennai-Salem greenfield corridor as one of the 27 greenfield expressways and access-controlled corridors, which are part of the integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects for industrial clusters and enhanced connectivity to economic centres and economic nodes. These projects would connect 353 nodes under PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan and 20 multi-modal logistic parks and other transport infrastructure like 29 ports, over 85 airports and 175 major railway stations.
Barring Chennai-Salem corridor and four other corridors, the remaining 22 projects are under various stages of implementation from construction to awarding contract and bidding. “We have no intention to shelve the project and are ready to effect changes to the alignment. NHAI has honoured the people’s voice in many places. The state government has to take the people into confidence and cooperate with us. We need to hear people,” said a senior NHAI official.
In August, Gadkari had said that the project under Bharatmala Pariyojana costing 7,230 crore was awaiting the state government’s views on the alignment. After the state government offers its remarks on alignment, the project will be undertaken. Incidentally, after meeting Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday, Velu told reporters, “We have allies that oppose the project. Only the chief minister shall take a policy decision by consulting them”.
He said the state government’s view was that farmers’ concerns should be addressed, indicating that the DMK government was not against the project.
Velu’s remarks had triggered sharp reactions from the farmers, affected by the project. “During electioneering, the DMK leaders had expressed strong opposition to the project. Now, they cite the stand of alliance partners. It is condemnable. Our protests will be intense,” said K Vinayagam of Movement Against Chennai-Salem Expressway.