Stalin writes to Gadkari on his statement against state’s non-cooperation in road work

Chennai, Feb 11 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin in a letter to Union Minister for Highways and Roads,Nitin Gadkari expressed disappointment on the latter’s statement that for completion of road projects, the union government requires the cooperation of the state government.

Stalin was responding to a statement by the Union Minister to a question in parliament by the DMK MP, Dayandihi Maran in which he had said that the centre required the cooperation of the state governments to complete the projects.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in the letter written on Saturday said that the stretch of road in NH -4 from Chennai to Ranipet about which Dayanidhi Maran had asked a question provides vital connectivity from Chennai ports to the industrial clusters in Kancheepuram, Vellore, Hosur, Ranipet and Krishnagiri.

The Chief Minister in the letter said that the road was very bad and that he had to plan recent visits to these towns by train. Stalin said, “The request from our MP was very pointed but your reply was very general and non-committal and we are disappointed at this reply.”

He also pointed out the Madras High Court order of December 2020 directing the reduction of the toll fee at Sriperumbadur and Chennasamudran toll plazas by 50% due to poor maintenance.

Stalin in the letter also mentioned that the difficulties faced by the road users have caused a major dent in the reputation of NHAI and requested Gadkari to issue instructions to the NHAI officials to expedite the six-lane work and to maintain the road stretch in good condition. 

He said that the NHAI was earlier doing excellent work in Tamil Nadu and presently a dent in the reputation has happened about NHAI among the people of the state.

The Chief Minister also said that it was unfortunate that the impression that the state government was not cooperating with the has been specifically mentioned in the Minister’s reply in parliament.