More investment needed for infrastructure development

PUDUKOTTAI: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram stressed the need for more investment in infrastructure development for economic growth as it plays a key role in developing the far-flung and backward areas.

Infrastucture plays a key role in the development of backward areas, he said, inaugurating the 100-km East Coast Road between Kattumavadi and Ramanathapuram at the remote Meemisal village in Pudukottai district last evening.
Stating that water logging and movement of heavily loaded trucks damage the roads, forcing repeated investment, he said government should take stringent action against trucks found overloaded.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests said work on 'four laning' of the ECR would be taken up soon.
Tamil Nadu Highways Minister M P Swaminathan said the stretch was part of the 742 Km ECR project, entailing an investment of Rs 2,442 crore, linking 11 coastal districts in Tamil Nadu from Arcot to Tuticorin.

The world bank has sanctioned Rs 1,912 crore as loan for the project and the remaining would be contributed by the state government.