The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin has sought the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in declaring eight state roads as National Highways.
Stalin said that in-principal approval has been already granted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for conversion of 500 km long eight State Highway roads as National Highways.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin said sanction had also been accorded for the preparation of detailed project reports (DPR) and specified the roads in contention. ‘Accordingly, studies have been taken up for preparation of DPR for the above roads under Annual Plan 2017-18 by the State National Highways wing. The proposals for declaration of the roads have also been presented to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) on 06.12.2018.’ ‘However, formal notifications for the declaration of these roads as new National Highways are yet to be issued by the Ministry,’ Stalin added.
The eight roads are: Thiruvannamalai-Kallakurichi (65 km); Vallioor-Tiruchendur (70 km); Kollegal-Hanur-MM Hills-Palar Road-TN Border extended upto Mettur in Tamil Nadu (30 km); Palani-Dharapuram (31 km); Arcot-Tindivanam (91 km); Mettupalayam-Bhavani (98 km); Avinashi-Mettupalayam (38 km) and Bhavani-Karur (77 km). MoRTH had approved three of these in 2016, and the rest in 2017, the letter said.
However, all of these eight roads play a significant role as it connects the pilgrimage centers like Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchendur, and Palani that give the state lot of revenue as lakhs of Hindu devotees visit this place each year, and they are also major tourist centers.
To ensure seamless travel, Stalin has called for help and wants immediate improvements to fulfill the needs of the road users.
“I assure you that the State Government will extend its full cooperation to take up all the necessary improvement works in these roads in the current year itself,” he wrote. “I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Union Government for the proper upkeep and development of National Highways infrastructure in Tamil Nadu,” he added.
“Therefore, I request you to direct MoRTH to issue requisite notifications declaring these eight state roads as new National Highways and to entrust the development works with the State Government with necessary funding,” he said.
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