NAGERCOIL: Road development works at an estimated Rs 50,000 crore will be implemented in Tamil Nadu by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, at a function to mark the laying of the foundation stone for the Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram four-laning work at Marthandam in Kanyakumari district, on Tuesday.
Gadkari also said that the foundation stone for the Colachel Port will be laid by the Prime Minister, along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, before March 8. Work on four-laning of around 105 kilometres and construction of flyovers in Parvathipuram and Marthandam is expected to be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 2,766 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said that developing major ports, good roads, providing uninterrupted power supply and having smart telecommunication systems is very important for the country. When Narendra Modi took charge, our GDP was 4.5 per cent; now it is 7.5 per cent, he noted.
The BJP government was giving high priority to infrastructure, said the minister. His ministry has undertaken 39 projects in Tamil Nadu, at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore. All the projects are on fast-track mode and the ministry will do its best to complete them at the earliest, he assured.
Gadkari also said that the ministry has decided to start nine new projects covering 1,300 kilometres in the state, costing Rs 12,500 crore. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the new projects are being prepared. Work on all the development works mentioned above will begin by December 2017.
There were more post-Pongal goodies for the people of Tamil Nadu. Gadkari declared that eight state highway roads will be upgraded to National Highways. He has authorised the Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan to use Rs 17,000 crore for the upgrade, Gadkari added.