CHENNAI: The stretch between Poonamallee and Central station on EVR Periyar Salai (Poonamallee High Road) will get a face lift, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has floated tenders.
A submission to this effect was made by NHAI senior counsel P Wilson, when a PIL from V S Suresh, an advocate, came up before the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice R Hemalatha, last week.
The PIL prayed for a directive to inspect the stretch and repair the National Highway (NH4) from Poonamallee Sub-Court to Central Railway Station.
Petitioner’s counsel V Raghupathy submitted that the stretch in question is in bad shape and not motorable. Several accidents had occurred due to the poor condition of the road, a national highway, which is thronged by thousands of vehicles, including heavy ones. He also pointed out the breaches committed by the previous contractor for the job.
When the matter came up before the bench on December 4 last, Wilson told the judges that the NHAI had floated tenders for doing the work at an estimate of Rs 13.37 crore. The work will commence immediately upon approval of the bid and signing of the agreement.
Recording the submission and disposing of the PIL, the bench said that since steps had already been initiated, no order needs to be passed. The bench, however, added that considering the inconvenience of the public, it is expected that the authorities concerned will take immediate steps for the restoration and repair of the road in question.