SALEM: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said that the Chennai-Salem expressway was a big project of the central government and the State government was assisting the Centre in acquiring required land.
He was responding to a query from mediapersons at the Salem airport regarding the opposition charge that the project was being implemented to get “commissions”. “Only those who cannot oppose the AIADMK government on political grounds, are now opposing the schemes,” the chief minister said.
Palaniswami assured that farmers would not be affected by the expressway project as generous compensation would be given for their land and trees and in lieu of houses that they may lose, green houses would be given to them on government land. The guideline value of land had been hiked by the government compared to the rates that prevailed during the DMK regime, he said, and added that each tree and crop would be compensated appropriately.
“The Chennai-Salem green corridor is a project aimed at fulfilling the future requirements of the State. It has manifold benefits. For new industries to come, good infrastructure like roads is necessary. They would, in turn, provide employment to the youth. It is not a project for Salem district alone. It is a project for the entire State,” chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
“The project would take four or five years for completion. By that time, the estimated vehicle population would be around 3.27 crore. Today’s newspapers say 16,214 persons died in road accidents last year. If so, just imagine how the loss of lives would go up. The government not only aims at reducing the road accidents but also protecting the invaluable lives of the people,” he said.
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