TN preparing DPR to implement World Bank backed Rs 8,500 cr road infra project

Chennai:
Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 65 crore to prepare a detailed project report for implementing World Bank backed Rs 8,583 crore road infrastrucure project.

Delivering a special address at the inaugural session of Suminfra, an event organized by Confederation of Indian Industry along with the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments, Principal secretary, Highways and Minor Ports Rajeev Ranjan said that the DPR is still being prepared for the 1,678 km road development project across the state under the public-private partnership (PPP) project.

The project is likely to be implemented from next year, said Ranjan while declining to provide any further information. The project is likely to be taken up in five packages. The road improvement project also involves financial strategy such as tolling of high-density traffic corridors and levy of cess on motor fuel and motor vehicle tax.

He also said that the first phase of Outer ring Road project nhas been completed and the second phase of Outer Ring Road from Nemilicheri in NH 205 to Minjur in Thiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetti Road has started. The second phase of ORR project costs Rs 985.44 crore.

Ranjan also said that the state government is planning to develop six-lanes and eight lanes in the Oragadam industrial corridor.

S Krishnan, principal secretary, planning and development said that the state’s target to attain $10,000 per capita income by 2023 is attainable. He said the target is not ambitious and the state has demonstrated that it can grow at two to three per cent above national average.

He also said as per Raghuram Rajan panel report the state ranking has improved from fifth to third among the 28 states.”We don’t contest this part but we are unhappy with other elements of the report,” said Krishnan. “We are the only one who improved our ranking from fifth to third,” he added.

He also stressed on the need to take advantage of country’s demographic dividend which is favourable for the country. He also highlighted the role of Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board’s role in identification and structuring of projects. He said the state has allocated Rs 200 crore for structuring of projects and has allocated rs 75 crore for preparation of projects.

He also said that currently the projects under preparation include using LED bulbs for street lights in seven circles across the state besides sewage and tertiary treatment plant in Chennai and Tuticorin.

Krishnan said that the Madurai-Tuticorin corridor is at the advanced stage of development while stating that the state is not worried about temporary blips like the slowdown in gowth rate.