Mega road projects connecting Chennai Port to be completed in two years: G K Vasan
Chennai, February 8:
Putting a brave face to counter the ‘anti-customer friendly image’ of Chennai Port due to its poor infrastructure for export and import trades, Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan on Monday announced that the Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) and the controversial War Memorial-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway would be completed within two years.
Chennai, February 8:
Putting a brave face to counter the ‘anti-customer friendly image’ of Chennai Port due to its poor infrastructure for export and import trades, Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan on Monday announced that the Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) and the controversial War Memorial-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway would be completed within two years.
Briefing reporters after a review meeting here, which was reportedly very stormy as participating stake holders blamed each other for the projects’ inordinate delay, the Minister said, “In the joint meeting, all the issues relating to the two projects were discussed comprehensively to ensure that any outstanding issues are sorted out at the earliest.”
Besides Union Shipping Minister Vasan, State Highways and Minor Ports Minister Saminathan, officials from Ministry of Shipping and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and chairmen of Chennai Port Trust and Ennore Port participated in the review meeting.
It may be noted that the two main container terminal operators in the Chennai Port, Chennai Container Terminal Limited (CCTL) and Chennai International Terminals Private Limited (CITPL) and who suffers a lot due to poor road connectivity, were not invited for the all important review meeting.
While Elevated Expressway project was pending for more than a year despite Prime Minister's dramatic inauguration in January 2009, EMRIP roadlink was pending for the last 14 years mainly due to official apathy.
Though Minister Vasan was evasive on a timeframe for finishing these mega projects initially, he said, “All other agencies concerned have also assured to put in their best efforts for the speedy completion and it will take about two years to complete these projects.”
He also announced that both the projects would be toll roads. Though the War Memorial-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway had been already declared as a tolled roadway, it may be noted that the Minister for the first time revealed that the EMRIP roadlink would also be a tolled one.
Reacting to a question on environmental clearance to Elevated Expressway, Vasan said, “We are hopeful that a positive note will be given by the government for the project.”
Since these two important connectivity projects are delayed inordinately, importers and exporters are now turning to fast-developing neighbouring Krishnapatnam Port, located 180 kilometres from Chennai Port.
With the Chennai Port failing to understand its customers’ need, the private port started attracting bulk cargoes from Chennai. The port’s declining status is evident from the statistics where it earlier used to handle about 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of several rough granite blocks every month, but its has been now fully shifted to Krishnapatnam Port.
Eom.Saravanan
While Elevated Expressway project was pending for more than a year despite Prime Minister's dramatic inauguration in January 2009, EMRIP roadlink was pending for the last 14 years mainly due to official apathy.
Though Minister Vasan was evasive on a timeframe for finishing these mega projects initially, he said, “All other agencies concerned have also assured to put in their best efforts for the speedy completion and it will take about two years to complete these projects.”
He also announced that both the projects would be toll roads. Though the War Memorial-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway had been already declared as a tolled roadway, it may be noted that the Minister for the first time revealed that the EMRIP roadlink would also be a tolled one.
Reacting to a question on environmental clearance to Elevated Expressway, Vasan said, “We are hopeful that a positive note will be given by the government for the project.”
Since these two important connectivity projects are delayed inordinately, importers and exporters are now turning to fast-developing neighbouring Krishnapatnam Port, located 180 kilometres from Chennai Port.
With the Chennai Port failing to understand its customers’ need, the private port started attracting bulk cargoes from Chennai. The port’s declining status is evident from the statistics where it earlier used to handle about 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of several rough granite blocks every month, but its has been now fully shifted to Krishnapatnam Port.
Eom.Saravanan
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