Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced an additional ₹1 lakh crore allocation for highway projects in Tamil Nadu during his visit to Thanjavur. He inspected the Vikravandi-Kumbakonam-Thanjavur bypass project and emphasized the BJP government's commitment to the state's infrastructure development.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Friday that the Centre will allocate an additional ₹1 lakh crore for highway projects in Tamil Nadu. The announcement came during his visit to Thanjavur, where he inspected the four-lane Cholapuram-Thanjavur and Sethiyathope-Cholapuram sections of the 164km Vikravandi-Kumbakonam-Thanjavur bypass project.
Gadkari revealed that Tamil Nadu currently has 71 upcoming projects spanning 2,781 kms, with a projected cost of ₹1 lakh crore. He emphasized that the BJP government has spent ₹2 lakh crore on highway projects across Tamil Nadu since 2014. The minister stated that ongoing projects are valued at ₹60,000 crore, while completed projects amount to ₹50,000 crore.
While acknowledging the state's cooperation in executing the Centre's road projects, Gadkari highlighted the need to expedite land acquisition processes. He noted that delays often occur as most of the land to be acquired in Tamil Nadu is fertile. The minister admitted to a four-year and one-month delay in completing the bypass project, which began in 2018, but refrained from blaming anyone for the setback.
Expressing satisfaction with the road quality, Gadkari assured that the ministry is committed to timely, result-oriented, and corruption-free project execution. He announced that the third package of the Vikravandi-Kumbakonam-Thanjavur bypass project would commence soon with a new contractor, following the termination of the previous tender awarded to a company owned by Anil Ambani.
In addition to road projects, Gadkari touched upon his vision for river linking projects. He revealed that the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project remains his unfulfilled dream. The former water resources minister expressed his desire to divert surplus water from the Godavari to the Krishna, then to the Pennar, and ultimately to the Cauvery. This ambitious project aims to resolve water issues in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, potentially transforming the agricultural landscape of both states.
Despite no longer heading the water resources ministry, Gadkari reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for the implementation of this transformative project. He believes that if given the opportunity, he could make significant strides in addressing the water challenges faced by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through this innovative river-linking initiative.
Gadkari revealed that Tamil Nadu currently has 71 upcoming projects spanning 2,781 kms, with a projected cost of ₹1 lakh crore. He emphasized that the BJP government has spent ₹2 lakh crore on highway projects across Tamil Nadu since 2014. The minister stated that ongoing projects are valued at ₹60,000 crore, while completed projects amount to ₹50,000 crore.
While acknowledging the state's cooperation in executing the Centre's road projects, Gadkari highlighted the need to expedite land acquisition processes. He noted that delays often occur as most of the land to be acquired in Tamil Nadu is fertile. The minister admitted to a four-year and one-month delay in completing the bypass project, which began in 2018, but refrained from blaming anyone for the setback.
Expressing satisfaction with the road quality, Gadkari assured that the ministry is committed to timely, result-oriented, and corruption-free project execution. He announced that the third package of the Vikravandi-Kumbakonam-Thanjavur bypass project would commence soon with a new contractor, following the termination of the previous tender awarded to a company owned by Anil Ambani.
In addition to road projects, Gadkari touched upon his vision for river linking projects. He revealed that the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project remains his unfulfilled dream. The former water resources minister expressed his desire to divert surplus water from the Godavari to the Krishna, then to the Pennar, and ultimately to the Cauvery. This ambitious project aims to resolve water issues in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, potentially transforming the agricultural landscape of both states.
Despite no longer heading the water resources ministry, Gadkari reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for the implementation of this transformative project. He believes that if given the opportunity, he could make significant strides in addressing the water challenges faced by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through this innovative river-linking initiative.