Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has directed officials to examine and approve within 10 days road project proposals submitted by Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy, the Union Territory’s Public Works Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said on Thursday.

Rao, who attended a Goods and Services Tax Council meeting in Delhi, said he had handed Gadkari a letter from Rangasamy seeking approval for Rs. 15 bn to extend a proposed flyover on the Puducherry-Cuddalore route. The minister held a meeting with Gadkari to discuss the proposals.

The Centre has already approved a flyover on the route at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.5 bn. The initial plan covered a 2.5-km stretch, while the Chief Minister has requested its extension across the entire 13.30-km distance between Puducherry and Mullodai village, Rao said in a release.

The extended structure is expected to ease traffic congestion on the Puducherry-Cuddalore route, particularly during weekends. Gadkari instructed ministry officials to consider the representation and issue approval within the specified 10-day period, according to Rao.

Gadkari also directed officials to positively consider a separate request for Rs. 120 mn to improve the road connecting the Department of Fisheries with the national highway in Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry located in Andhra Pradesh. The proposals cover infrastructure improvements intended to address traffic and connectivity requirements in Puducherry and its outlying region.