Baalu favours expediting Ennore Port project

New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu today said National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Ennore Port officials should coordinate their efforts with the Railway Ministry to expedite the pending work on the rail-road connectivity project.

Mr Baalu made this suggestion while addressing a review meeting here on Rail-Road connectivity to Ennore Port.

The NHAI is implementing the project for construction of a 30-km segment of Chennai-Ennore Port connectivity at a cost of Rs 309 crore.

The first phase of nine km segment is likely to be completed by December 2007.

It was pointed out at the meeting that 10 groynes (a small jetty extending from a shore to prevent beach erosion) with 500 meters of sea walls had been completed.

Mr Baalu directed the NHAI officials to expedite the construction of three additional groynes for the project in the second phase.

The meeting was informed that the in-principle approval of the Planning Commission to the project for rail connectivity to the coal, iron and container terminals had already been conveyed to Ennore Port authorities.

Southern Railway has also approved this project in-principle at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore.

The Attipattu-Puttur Rail Link, one of the projects recommended by the Committee on rail/road Connectivity of Major Ports, is under review of the Railway Board. The Ennore Port is considering the option of taking up the project through SPV.

UNI SKS CS RK1740