CHENNAI: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari cited delay in land acquisition and obtaining ‘no objection certificates’ from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry govts as well as central agencies as reasons for delay in implementing multi-crore coastal highway projects.
Replying in Parliament last Thursday, Gadkari listed eight packages on the coastal stretch, worth 10,686crore, the first being the four-laning of the Mamallapuram-Mugaiyur section.
Launched in May 2022 with a budget of 1,360.53crore, this 31km widening project is scheduled for completion in August 2025 but has only made 33% progress.
“There has been a delay in land acquisition process, including handing over of land,” said Gadkari in response to a query from Krishnagiri (Congress) MP K Gopinath about the project status.
There is also a delay in issuing ‘no objection’ certificates by the water resources department for major bridges, besides delay in issuing permission for burrow earth, and delay in mobilisation of adequate resources by concessionaires.
The second project, the four-laning of the 31km Mugaiyur to Marakkanam section, was approved at a cost of 1,116.13 crore and work commenced in December 2023 with an expected completion date of December 2025. Only 17.32% progress has been made so far.
Regarding the four-laning of the Puducherry-Poondiyankuppam section of NH-32, this 38-km project was started in November 2021 at a cost of 1,588.4crore with completion scheduled for September 2025.
The ministry cited delay in shifting 230KV and 110KV EHT lines pending fixing of compensation by Puducherry govt. There is delay in mobilisation of adequate resources by the concessionaires as well.
The four-laning of the Poondiyankuppam-Sattanathapuram section, launched in January 2022 at a cost of Rs 2,565.63 crore, has shown 98.79% progress.
Even though its scheduled completion is in September 2025, there are challenges. “Non issuance of fly ash by NLC, delay in land acquisition process, including handing over of required land and delay in obtaining approval from Southern Railway for ROB (Rail Over Bridge) are reasons,” Gadkari said.
The four-laning of the Sattanathapuram-Nagapattinam stretch has faced delays too. Despite starting in October 2020, the 55.76km project with a budget of 2,790.89crore has only achieved 48.15% progress. Non-issuance of fly ash by NLC and delay in land acquisition have been cited as reasons. For the four-laning of the Nagapattinam to Tuticorin via Ramanathapuram section, a work order for preparing detailed project report has been awarded for the 312.36km project.
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