Willing to realign road projects: NHAI

After drawing flak from environmentalists and activists, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials have said they are prepared to realign the proposed Chennai - Bengaluru Expressway and Chennai - Salem green corridor, if the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of both the projects indicate a loss of green cover

Even as NHAI officials were gearing up to undertake work on the Chennai-Salem Green Corridor at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, the move came under sharp criticism for the potential destruction of trees along the route. 

Similar condemnation from various quarters including ecologists was meted out to the proposed 262-km long Chennai-Bengaluru project. 

When contacted, a NHAI official said, “We are conducting only a feasibility study at present. We have taken the ecological factor into consideration. Although there is a possibility for cutting down trees at some places, the road will not pass through Reserved Forests (RFs) in both projects.” 

The Union Road Transport Ministry has advised us to be cautious about the forest cover, even while preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), added the official. 

Stating that they are aware about the importance of forest cover, the NHAI official said, “We will realign the route of both the projects if the DPR specifies that a substantial number of trees are likely to be affected.” 

However, activists are unhappy about the developments. MG Devasahayam, an urban development expert and former civil servant, said, “These two projects are unnecessary as it will consume major portions of forests. Instead, the NHAI can convert the existing roads into six-lanes and undertake repair works”. The Union Ministry is taking up unnecessary large projects at the cost of taxpayers, the expert added.