Indian shipping minister inquires ChPT to make an approach for road widening
The Union Minister of Shipping Mr. G.K. Vasan inquires Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) officials to issue allotment letters to the owners of 146 fish stalls so that work for widening the 1.6 killometre road stretch from the zero gates to S.N. Chetty Street can be taken up, Daily Shipping Times reports.
At the first meeting on April 14, he had asked Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) officials to conduct issue-based review meetings every fortnight and apprise him about the developments.
Officials of the TNRDC and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had written several letters to ChPT to do the needful as there was little or no progress on this stretch. Besides, they were concerned that the onset of the monsoon could delay the project.
Mr. Vasan said his Ministry would take all steps to ensure that the Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) and Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated road link projects are completed on time.
“I have asked my officials to co-ordinate with the NHAI, TNRDC and State government officials to ensure that these projects are completed before their deadline. As far as the EMRIP is concerned, we will release money to the NHAI as and when they need it. Tenders have been floated for construction of additional 42 fishing stalls.”
Asked about the issue of allotment letters to the rightful owners, ChPT Chairman Mr. Atulya Misra said that he would hold discussions with the TNRDC and Fisheries Department soon to ensure that the relocation of fishermen took place smoothly. The port was planning to issue allotment letters soon after constructing 42 more fishing stalls.
NHAI officials said minor irritants such as shifting of two major transformers, small electric junction boxes and pipelines from S.N. Chetty Street to Ernavur junction came in the way of expediting the work.
