DMK, PMK worried over shelving Chennai flyway

The DMK and the PMK in Tamil Nadu Tuesday expressed concern over the likelihood of shelving of the Rs.1,800 crore elevated expressway in the state capital.

In a statement issued here, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said: "The conflict between the centre and the state government has threatened closure of projects worth around Rs.6,000 crore in Chennai alone."

He said the lack of cooperation by the state government delayed seven highway projects worth thousands of crore of rupees, which would affect the state's economic growth.

The foundation stone of the 19 km expressway was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009 when the DMK was in power in the state and the project is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

In May 2011, the AIADMK government came to power and the project started facing hurdles.

According to Ramadoss, if the elevated corridor project is dropped, it would affect other projects like the Rs.3,686 crore mega container terminal at Madras Port and the Rs.415 crore dry container terminal at Sriperumbudur.

DMK chief M. Karunanidhi said in a statement that attempts were being made to stop the Sethusamudram Canal Project and the state government was planning to shut down the expressway project.

He said the NHAI was planning to exit the project as it does not want to incur further losses.

Karunanidhi said the DMK would organise a rally Aug 17 here urging the state government to extend its full cooperation to the project.