Perungalathur to Singaperumal Koil : NH stretch to be made eight-lane

CHENNAI: The stretch of the national highway from Perungalathur to Singaperumal Koil would be upgraded into 8-lane corridor soon in order to decongest the traffic on the outskirts of the city and to make road journey to the districts more comfortable, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said.

The work to upgrade the stretch from Perungalathur to Singaperumal Koil in Kancheepuram district, into eight lane will commence soon, Mr. Palaniswami said on Monday. Winding up the debate on the demand for grants for Highways and Public Words Departments, the portfolios he holds, the CM said tenders have been called to execute the project.

Apart from obtaining special permission from the Centre, the project has the nod of the Union Road Transport Ministry, he added.

Mr. Palaniswami announced a slew of initiatives under the PWD to the tune of Rs. 2,131.88 crore. Apart from establishing a barrage at Cauvery river in Karur district, Mr. Palaniswami said the government would build 12 check dams in eight districts. Further, 42 bridges could be constructed across rivers in various districts besides the government would take up appropriate work to divert the surplus water flowing into the sea. He said Chennai would have flyovers at a cost of Rs. 1,222 crore.

Earlier, responding to an issue raised in the Assembly by DMK member S. R. Raja Mr. Palaniswami said the work to evict encroachments from the Adyar and Cooum rivers and Buckingham canal was progressing and out of 71,000 encroachments, about 14,400 encroachments have been evicted.

When DMK member Moothy sought to know if the government has any plans to develop the Vandiyur tank in Madurai, Mr. Palaniswami said about Rs. 3.5 crore would be spent to develop the Vandiyur tank into a tourist attraction.