Jayalalithaa seeks Centre's aid for big ticket TN projects

Chennai, Sep 5: Handing over Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu a wish list, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday sought Centre's support in implementing a slew of urban infrastructure projects including second phase of Metrorail which alone costs Rs 36,100 crore.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today called on Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat here and held discussions with her related to development projects of Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister, after seeking Centre's support for a host of projects during the discussion, also handed over a wish list to the minister outlining the proposals of the state pending with his ministry, a release said.

During the discussion, Jayalalithaa wanted several cities to be developed under the Union government's Smart City plan including Chennai and Coimbatore. She sought an early clearance for extension of corridor-I of the Chennai Metro Rail Project.

Also, she sought support for Phase-II implementation of the metro rail with a total distance of 76 kms at a tentative cost of Rs 36,100 crores.

She wanted inclusion of Srirangam in the Centre's list of Heritage Cities, support for two sea water reverse osmosis plants for Chennai costing over Rs 5,000 crore Jayalalithaa told Naidu that project reports had been prepared for various urban infrastructure projects including providing drinking water at a total project cost of Rs 26,000 crores awaiting Centre's clearance and funding.

PTI