The slum dwellers in Maduravoyal and surrounding places joined hands in opposing the DMK’s support for Maduravoyal elevated corridor here on Saturday. They alleged that when there are projects like Outer Ring Road available as an alternative which does not affect the residents, the DMK is trying to keep the elevated corridor project alive just for the sake of political gain.
In 2007, during the regime of DMK, the government brought the elevated corridor project connecting Maduravoyal and Chennai Port worth Rs 450 crores. The 19 km stretch is now worth Rs 1,800 crores. The project has to be implemented by NHAI but now, the work has been stopped as the slum dwellers in the stretches of Cooum river such as Maduravoyal, Arumbakkam and Aminjikkarai are opposing the project and a PIL was also filed.
Speaking to Express, Anbuvendan, co-ordinator, Federation of Slum Dwellers Association, said the project was brought purely for the benefit of larger companies as transportation to Chennai Port can be reached within ten minutes from Maduravoyal.
“But this project directly comes into the city and affects nearly 35,000 families in and around Maduravoyal. There are alternatives like ORR projects with connect Chennai Port from Vandalur. That ORR project will be kept out of city and there will be no need of relocation of people But, the elevated corridor project needs relocation of people which will be an absolute absurdity,” he claimed. The residents held a road roko and had a black flag protest against DMK.