Construction works for elevated highway soon: Baalu

Chennai, Mar 15 (UNI) Union Minister for Shipping and Highways T R Baalu today said the foundation stone for construction of an elevated highway from War Memorial near Chennai Port to Maduravoyal, covering a distance of 18.4 km, would be laid soon.

Talking to newspersons after calling on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence, he said the project would be executed at a cost of Rs 1500 crore.

It would be implemented jointly by the Central and State governments.

To a question, he said the pace of the work on construction of a fly over at Kathipara Junction in Guindy had gained momentum and it would be thrown open for traffic in a month's time.

Mr Baalu also refused to comment on the controversial Sethu samudram project saying the matter was sub-judice.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin, who inspected the flyover construction works in the city, said Mr Karunanidhi would inaugurate the North Usman flyover on March 30.

The flyover would be the first of the four flyovers being constructed by the Corporation.

He said works were on for the other three flyovers coming up at Turnbulls Road-Chamiers Road, G N Chetty Road-Thirumalai Road and Usman Road-Duraisamy Road junctions.

The Usman Road flyover would be inaugurated by June or July and the one at G N Chetty Road by December, he added.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters after calling on Mr Karunanidhi at his residence, CPI State Secretary T Pandian said the state government would soon take a decision on setting up a graphite factory at Sivaganga district.

UNI GV AJ 1756