CHENNAI: The revised detailed report for the 19-km Maduravoyal-Chennai Port elevated corridor project, that got stalled for the last five years, will be ready in the next three to four months, according to National Highways Authority of India Chief General Manager (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) Alok Deepankar.
The project which will now be a six-lane one up to Napier Bridge is expected to be implemented only from next financial year, he said. He told Express that NHAI is working on a new alignment based on inputs from the State government and a revised DPR is being prepared.
A Chennai Port source told Express that once the detailed project report is ready, the revenue models will be worked out following which a decision will be made to get Bharatmala funding for the project. Earlier, the project was based on Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model and it is likely to be converted to engineering procurement and construction (EPC) model, the source said.
The project is expected to be six-lane from Maduravoyal to Napier Bridge with a deck width of 26 metres. Initially, when announced, it was a four-lane project with the deck width of 17 metres. There is a plan to have 10 exit and entry ramps. The exit ramps are proposed at Kamarajar Salai, Spur Tank Road, Koyambedu (before and after separator) and entry ramps proposed at Sivananda Salai, College Road, Koyambedu (before and after grade separator) etc. “These will have to be included in the revised DPR. The cost of the project will also be factored into which is likely to go up,” Port sources said. A Chennai Port official said that once the project is implemented, Chennaites will benefit as it will cut down travel time. Currently, nowhere in the city, there is a six-lane highway.