Source: http://www.portwings.in/articlesinterviews/pending-projects-tns-lone-union-minister-pins-hope-on-jaya/
Chennai:
Port Wings News Network:
In a congratulatory message to Chief Minister J
Jayalalithaa, who sworn in as the CM of Tamil Nadu for the record fifth time on
May 23, Mr Pon. Radhakrishnan, Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways
& Shipping, has said that her return as CM will foster fast-paced and better
industrial growth in the of southern coastal state.
Mr Radhakrishnan, who also attended the Jayalalithaa’s
swearing-in ceremony as the representative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
said that many pending port-related projects are likely to be speeded up under
the new Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
PANNEERSELVAM
& RADHAKRISHNAN MEETING:
In an unexpected visit during November last year, Mr
Radhakrishnan, who was the then Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries
and Public Enterprises, met the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr O.
Panneerselvam at the State Secretariat.
During the meeting, Mr Radhakrishnan, who is the only
Minister representing the state of Tamil Nadu in the Union Government, and Mr Panneerselvam discussed the status of
several ongoing port and road-related projects and acquisition of land for some
projects.
Later speaking to reporters then, the Minister had stated
that they discussed some of the ongoing projects including the Ennore Manali
Road Improvement Project, Maduravoyal-Chennai Port Elevated Expressway project.
According to experts, eventhough five months have passed
since then, nothing has moved beyond a certain point.
However, Mr Radhakrishnan, who has been now moved to Ministry
of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, pinned hope on the new Chief
Minister J Jayalalithaa that she would speed up all those port-related
projects, as it would bring a name and fame for the Tamil Nadu government
during the proposed Global Investors Meet (GIM) slated for September as the “best
destination for investment.”
RENEWED HOPE FOR PORT
CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS:
It is worth recalling here that the then UPA Government
at the Centre and the Tamil Nadu State Government led by AIADMK were at
loggerheads on port connectivity projects like EMRIP and Chennai
Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway. However, scenario has changed little bit
after the BJP-led Union Government sworn in May 2014.
ENNORE MANALI ROAD
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (EMRIP):
Though the then Union Minister of Shipping Mr G K Vasan
was instrumental in revitalizing the defunct EMRIP Project in January 2011,
which was conceived in early 2000 and remained a non-starter for years,
non-cooperation from the state government had its toll on the important port
connectivity project.
However, things have started changing post May 2014after
the BJP taking over the Union Government.
As one date, about 85 % of the EMRIP project has been
completed and few stretches near Kasimedu along the Ennore Expressway, which
falls under the Tamil Nadu Government’s ambit, are still remaining a tumbling
block.
In March, Mr Radhakrishnan reviewed the progress of the project
and asked the Chennai port management to persuade the Tamil Nadu State
Government for early completion.
CHENNAI
PORT-MADURAVOYAL ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY PROJECT:
Likewise, Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway
project, another important port connectivity project, is stuck for more than three
years.
During a visit to Tamil Nadu last November, Union
Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping Mr Nitin Gadkari reviewed
the pending port connectivity projects in Chennai and went on an open appeal to
the Tamil Nadu government to cooperate with them for speedy implementation in
the interest of the nation.
OUT OF COURT
SETTLEMENT:
While observing that the issue of Elevated Expressway
between Chennai Port and Maduravoyal for providing a dedicated road
connectivity to the Port is embroiled in court case, Mr Radhakrishnan, during a
review meeting in March this year, had recommended that both NHAI and Tamil
Nadu government should make efforts to reach an out of court settlement so that
the work can be resumed.
IMPORTANCE OF ELEVATED
ROAD PROJECT:
With a view to alleviate the perennial congestion of
heavy vehicles on Chennai’s arterial roads which could create serious problems
for other common road users in the future if not arrested on time, major
stakeholders -- Chennai Port, a Central government-maintained major port, and
the Tamil Nadu state government – have planned for a better road connectivity
to ensure seamless movement of cargo towards Chennai Port round-the-clock
without disturbing common road users.
The need for a dedicated freight road emerged as a better
solution, as Chennai Port has experienced a steady increase in the volume of
traffic handled over the years, which in turn has increased the traffic on the
internal roads of the Port.
The Elevated road connectivity project came in to
existence due to certain traffic restrictions on movement of heavy vehicles to
Chennai Port on NH-4 within Chennai city.
IMPORTANCE OF
COLACHEL PORT:
In the message to CM Jayalalithaa, Mr Radhakrishnan also
highlighted that her return as Chief Minister would help to move forward
swiftly on establishing a modern and a world-class international port at Colachel
Harbour, which is now maintained by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.
EXIM TRADE HOPES
FOR THE BEST:
Though the meeting between Union Minister Mr
Radhakrishnan and then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr Paneerselvam had rekindled
the hope for changing signs between Tamil Nadu State government and Union
Government, the attendance of Mr Radhakrishnan as the representative of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at the Jaya swearing-in on May 23 has further raised the
hope among the Exim fraternity in the state.
A few of them even said that Mr Radhakrishnan could meet
the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the State Secretariat soon to
seek her support in completing all pending port-related projects and
re-development of Colachel Harbour as a Union-Government managed international
standard port.
No comments:
Post a Comment