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Now Chennai Port-Maduravoyal expressway to cost Rs 24 billion. Read below to know the additions in its revised work

2018-10-22

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be soon resuming the work of Chennai Port-Maduravoyal expressway at a revised cost of Rs 24 billion from Rs 18.15 billion. Citing to environmental violations, the project had been shelved. Sticking to the original plan of acquiring 14,000 sq m of defence land near Napier Bridge along the expressway alignment, the revised project report was submitted to NHAI?s project unit in Chennai by L&T. The authorities has initiated land acquisition and are in the process of floating new tenders. After checking the stability and keeping in mind the aging factor, the existing structures (twin pillars) constructed for nearly 5 km at Koyambedu and on the banks of river Cooum in Chetpet will be used. A single column pier will be constructed instead of twin column, as per the recommendations of the state government.

Besides, the second phase of the project will be the elevated expressway of 10 km from Maduravoyal to Poonamallee. However, the project which was started in 2010 was stalled in 2011 as the construction of the pillars on the Cooum river would impact the environment, resulting in floods of the residential areas on either side of the river. Of the 19 km elevated expressway, nearly 14 km runs along the Cooum river.

The Edapaddi K Palaniswami government resumed the project by signing a State Support Agreement (SSA) with the centre. Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Shipping and Ports pushed for the project to ease the container traffic to the port and reduce travel time.