The Centre is clearing the hurdles blocking the pending road projects and is targeting Rs. 5 lakh crores worth of road projects in the next five years. Of this, Rs. 50,000 crores would be provided for infrastructural development in Tamil Nadu. It is already preparing the detailed project report (DPR).
This was disclosed by Mr. Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, while addressing industry representatives at a meeting organised in Chennai by the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
However, he said, land acquisition is one of the major problems, and the Government is working on appropriate changes in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Settlement Act, 2013. “We request the State Governments to co-operate with us in clearing the encroachments that affect major infrastructure projects and in acquiring these lands”.
Since cement roads require the least repair and maintenance, the Centre has decided to construct concrete roads throughout the country.
Referring to the traffic congestion caused by the Chennai port in the middle of the city, the Minister said: “We can possibly identify a 400-acre land away from the city with proper road and rail access and shift port operations over there.”
Earlier, Mr. S.G. Prabhakharan, MCCI President, welcomed Mr. Gadkari, who is popularly known as the ‘Champion of Highways’.
On the occasion, Mr. J. Krishnan, Chairman, MCCI Expert Committee – Logistics, gave a brief presentation on the prevailing infrastructure facilities in the city.