Chennai: Contrary to expectations, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stressed that it will not change any alignment in the blueprint prepared for long-pending Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Four-Lane Corridor Project (EFLCP) and it will not demolish any pillar passing through Cooum river as expected.
NHAI officials say they will soon complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in the next couple of months and float a tender for resuming the much-needed 19-km expressway works, which remain incomplete.
The biggest and expensive project, since 2010, faced major hurdles, as state government had not issued environmental clearance certificate, citing ecological impact, because a sizable number of pillars were passing through Cooum river.
However, the state government showed green signal and issued certificate after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s demise. “We earlier planned to alter the blueprint by removing pillars at some points and changing the route. Even we preferred to extend the expressway to Vandalur Outer Ring Road (ORR), but we abandoned the decision, as it will cause further delay,” said a senior engineer, NHAI, wishing anonymity. Further, they received communication from Union surface ministry stating that the existing route can be used and there is no need for alternate route, the engineer added.
When contacted by DC, S Athipathi, Project Director, NHAI, Chennai region, said, “we have discussed this project with various stakeholders like Union road ministry, Tamil Nadu state government and other officials. Going by the current scenario, there will be no any re-alignment and no pillar will be removed.”
When asked about construction of new pillars, the PD responded, “DPR is underway and new pillar will be constructed in accordance with the DPR.” A few months ago, members from various lorry owners associations along with public painted the steels jutting out from pillars and held a protest demanding the government to resume the construction works.
