Elevated corridor project gets NOC.

The 19-km long Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project is set to get a new lease of life with the State government according its 'No Objection' to the new alignment proposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

In a letter to the NHAI, the Tamil Nadu government said it had accepted the recommendations made by a technical committee and the request of NHAI and there was no objection to the revised alignment.

The committee, comprising officials from the State Public Works Department, Highways Department, NHAI officials and experts, studied four proposals and suggested one that was forwarded to the NHAI, which in turn sent a proposal to the State government.

It will take 2-3 months for the feasibility study, detailed project report and land acquisition and 3 months to call for tenders after which construction will begin. At Koyambedu junction, the corridor will be an elevated stretch and land after crossing the Metro station and merge with the existing pillars.

“We will be using single pillars instead of the present design of two pillars. The PWD has marked the edge of the Cooum and we will take the alignment on the edge,” a senior NHAI official said. The take-off point near the Chennai port would be closer to the War Memorial, safeguarding the Napier Bridge. This will ensure minimum usage of Defence establishment land.

In August 2008, NHAI got in-principle clearance for the project and work commenced in 2011. It was put on hold in 2012 due to alignment issues by which time only 20 % of the construction had been completed. The State government had objected stating that the pillars on the Cooum would impede the flow of water.

THE HINDU