Maran blames previous TN govt for delay in IT corridor project

Chennai, May 25 (UNI) Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran today blamed the lackadaisical approach of the previous AIADMK government for the delay in completion of the IT corridor project.

Talking to reporters after inspecting the SIPCOT Industrial Park at Siruseri near here, he said as per the original schedule, work on the 26 km long the IT corridor project from Madhya Kailash Junction to Siruseri should have completed by this month.

But the work was going on at slow pace and the IT authorities had appraised him to take steps to speed up the project, he said, adding that he would hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation and the National Highway authorities to ascertain the reason for the slow progress.

''With the new IT-friendly government in power in Tamil Nadu, work on the first phase covering 10 km will be speeded up before the rest of the corridor could be taken up in a phased manner'', Mr Maran said and added that the present IT corridor would be extended upto Mahabalipuram to a further distance of 30 kms.

''The Centre will putforth this proposal before the State government for implementation'', he said and added that the extension of the IT corridor would help in setting up more IT industries in future.

Mr Maran said of the 72 companies allotted land in the SIPCOT park, only eight have started their operations.

He said he would analyse the problems faced by the companies in starting their operations in the Park.

In this context, he said the new government headed by Mr M Karunanidhi in the State would set up a task force to give speedy clearance for the IT projects in the State.

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