NHAI preparing fresh blueprint for Port-Maduravoyal road

According to NHAI sources, the study on preparing an altered blueprint has commenced and that a detailed project report (DPR) will be submitted by the end of this year. However, they intend to create three such blueprints. While the first one will keep the existing route option still open, the second one will consider having a single column, instead of the earlier twin column pillars along the Cooum River, without affecting the water flow. The third option revolves around extending the existing route by 10 km and connect it with the Outer Ring Road (ORR) beginning at Vandalur, the source added.

“We will submit these three blueprints to the union road transport officials for clearance. Based on this, we will seek approval from the state government, after which tender process will be held,” said an NHAI official adding that if everything goes as per plan, the work on the project will commence by January 2018.

S Athipathi, Project Director (PD), NHAI, Chennai Region, on confirming that the preparation of the DPR is in full swing, said the estimation of the project from the earlier Rs 1,655 crore is bound to go up owing to the cost escalation of all aspects involved.

It may be noted the long-pending project was shelved in 2011 by the Jayalalithaa Government citing environmental concerns as the pillars constructed through the Coovum river would affect the river ecology system.

The Elevated Four-lane Corridor Project (EFLCP) from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal was conceived 11 years ago to divert the container traffic from arterial roads and ease congestion within the city.