Government announces highway and shipping projects worth Rs one lakh crore for Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The road transport and shipping ministry has approved highways and shipping projects worth Rs one lakh crore in Tamil Nadu.

"These projects will cover the highways, shipping and port and for finding a permanent solution to the irrigation and drinking water requirements of the state," the government said in a statement.

During his Chennai trip, road transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced highway projects worth Rs 40,000 crore. He outlined the proposed projects with details of the financial outlay.

He also said the Chennai- Bengaluru Expressway is being taken at a projected cost of Rs 20,000 crore and will boost industrialisation and development activities along the expressway. All these projects would be taken up under the Bharatmala highway construction program.

Focussing on the decongestion of Chennai Traffic, Gadkari said three new elevated corridors have been approved first being the Tambaram- Chengelpatu at a cost of Rs 2250 crore, Poonamalee- Maduravoyal corridor with an outlay of Rs 1500 crore and the Tiruvallur Corridor budgeted at Rs 1000 crore.

In shipping, the minister announced various port development and expansion projects.