Port-Maduravoyal highway's MoU to be prepared soon

The Tamil Nadu (TN) government has approved the 20.6-km double-decker elevated highway between Chennai Port and Maduravoyal. The state government held a meeting with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to discuss resolving problems about the delay in projects in the state, including the Rs 5,000 crore Port-Maduravoyal highway. An official of NHAI revealed that in the coming 15 days, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the highway could be ready. Every stakeholder would receive the MoU, and after they agree, it would go to the ministry, where it will be signed. In the beginning, the project would serve the traffic of Chennai Port and later be adjusted for tier-1 regional traffic. The official told the media that the MoU was ready during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) administration. However, it had to be revised according to the present Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The Chief Minister MK Stalin informed that the legacy issues from the last decade are the grounds for several current problems. Stalin said that the team under Chief Secretary are doing their best to resolve these issues. The official said that TN assembled five exclusive land acquisition and management teams in Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Madurai and Vellore to expedite land acquisition and has also formed 18 field crews to prevent cost overrun.NHAI has not consented to the price set up by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) or arbitration awards issued by the District Collectors. Due to this, the procedure is left incomplete. The NHAI official informed that if the awards are reasonable, NHAI would consider them. Image Source