Union Minister predicts more prosperity for Southern TN

Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan today predicted more prosperity for the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, with the government deciding to implement the four-lane project, along the East Coast from Kolkata to Chennai and from there to Kanyakumari.
Talking to reporters here, he said the four-lane road work, named as 'Bharat Matha' project, would, along with the decision to deepen the Colachel port in Kanyakumari district, would lead to "economic boom of south Tamil Nadu."
"Colachel port would become gateway to South India, as an International shipping destination, " he said and this "will make South India more prosperous."

The survey for new route for the Sethusamudhram Shipping Channel Project was underway, he said.
Apart from the SSCP, a Rs 34,000-crore project for building a bridge that would link Talaimannar with Danushkodi would be undertaken. A feasibility study was now going on for the project, he added.
On delay in the implementation of the road projects, he said, some formalities like acquisition of lands needed state government support. But the Central government was getting all the cooperation, and work on road project linking Kanyakumari to Kerala had started after a long gap.

Toll gate collection was also being streamlined under the "E-Toll" scheme,and there would not be any complaint about excess toll collection, he added.

On the alleged suicide of DSP Vishnupriya, he said "any suicide is unfortunate. If the state government sought CBI inquiry into her death, the Centre is willing to do the same. But it will not thrust it (CBI probe) on the state government," he said.
Vishnupriya, DSP of Tiruchengode in Namakkal district, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself on September 18.