Chennai Salem Expressway in doldrums even after DMK withdraws its Opposition

After getting caught in the political storm between the two Kazagams for the past six years, it is now the turn of the central agencies to delay the Eight lane Chennai and Salem Expressway project by taking their own time in securing environment and forest clearance.

The Union Minister disclosed the information to a query posed by Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss in the Rajya sabha on March 16th. Mr Gadkari also said the Union government did not receive any objections from the Tamil Nadu government in executing the project.

The project proposed by the previous AIADMK government led by former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was opposed vehemently by a few political parties including the DMK and several farm associations.  The associations objected to the government's decision to acquire farmlands for the project.

The Chennai-Salem expressway will pass through crucial districts including Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri. It will reduce the travelling time between the state capital and Salem by at least two hours. The expressway will boost the economic growth of the state. It will ensure high-speed connectivity between special economic zones between the two cities. Chennai is one of the major automobile hubs while Salem is a textile hub. National highways authority of India (NHAI) has proposed to execute the project at an estimated cost of 10,000 crore.

The aiamdk government in the state blocked the Chennai Port Maduravoyal elevated corridor project for six years till 2016. For the past seven years several central agencies continue to block the progress of the project. Work on the project which remain suspended since 2011, is yet to resume in a record of sorts.