CHENNAI: Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan on Thursday reiterated the Centre’s view on arriving at an ‘out of court settlement’ for issues pertaining to much delayed Chennai Harbour-Maduravoyal Expressway.
He told this to mediapersons after holding discussions with Finance and PWD Minister O Panneerselvam and Minister for Highways and Minor Ports, K Palaniswami at the secretariat here. The discussions between the officials of the Central and State governments on many projects were satisfactory, he added.
Asked about the State’s response to the ‘out of court settlement’ proposal, Radhakrishnan said “we have reiterated our views during today’s talks.”
The Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project was suspended in 2012 due to a row between Water Resources Department (WRD) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The WRD had raised the violations of alignment near Spurtank Road and pillars constructed inside Cooum river.
Ennore Expressway is a highly congested one and cargo movement is allowed only during the night. Around 5,000 companies export cargo including automobile components, leather products, apparel, chemical and pharmaceutical products to countries in Europe, US and Southeast Asia.
The Union Minister also said, “the State government has expressed its full support for developing infrastructure for Colachel Harbour in Kanyakumari district. We thank Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and the Tamil Nadu government for this. We have also discussed many other projects relating to road infrastructure and ports.”