Stoppage of work 'motivated' act of TN govt: NHAI

NHAI today submitted in the Madras High Court that stoppage of work on Chennai port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project was nothing but a "motivated act" of the state government and it could not be made responsible for the alleged losses suffered by the concessionaire.
Work on the project was stopped following a 'stop work' notice till further orders issued by the Chief Engineer, Tamil Nadu, Public Works Department, on February 1 last year alleging violation of conditions in the government order.
NHAI had filed a writ plea seeking to quash the stop work notice to which the state government had said pillars were erected in the river, obstructing free flow of the water.

In its reply affidavit, National Highways Authority of India reiterated that the Tamil Nadu government had given approval and coastal regulation zone clearance was accorded for the central government project.
It said necessary works would be carried out to ensure discharge of 25,000 cusecs of water in the Cooum river as already assured after completion of the project. NHAI submitted that the stoppage after completion of major portion of the work "is nothing but a motivated act of the Chief Engineer PWD of State Government."
Denying the state government's allegations, the NHAI said the concessionaire wanted NHAI to pay a cumulative sum of Rs 945.16 crore for alleged losses suffered up to September 30 this year and requested the amount within 30 days.

The NHAI submitted that it has already informed the state government that it is liable to pay the revised amount as demanded by the concessionaire.
It said it could not be made responsible for the stoppage of work and for the alleged losses as it was in no way responsible and prayed for allowing the writ petition filed by it.