CHENNAI: The State government on Saturday proposed to undertake a host of road development projects, including the development of the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road, as the next IT expressway. The government also announced a bouquet of road infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,093 crore under the Ungal Thoguthiyil Muthalamaichar (UTM) scheme.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for his department in the Assembly, State Highways Minister EV Velu announced that Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road would be developed as the next IT expressway of the State capital like the Rajiv Gandhi Salai aka OMR to develop infrastructure in tune with the needs of the rapidly growing IT sector. A detailed project report (DPR) would be prepared in this regard this year.

To fulfil the demands of MLAs received under the UTM (Ungal Thoguthiyil Muthalamaichar) scheme, Velu announced a bouquet of projects worth Rs 1,093 crore. Under the project, a bypass road, 23 road-widening projects, five causeways, 14 small bridges and nine storm water drain works would be taken up, the minister added.

The minister also informed the House that a DPR would be prepared at Rs 1 crore to develop an elevated corridor from the Pallavaram flyover on GST Road to Chennai bypass road (Tambaram-Maduravoyal bypass).

Minister EV Velu also proposed to take up small bridges and canal works, wherever necessary in the city, at Rs 116 crore in the city to prevent flooding in the city.

Assuring to complete the works before the ensuing monsoon season and prevent flooding in the city, the Highways Minister also announced a railway overbridge each in Dharmapuri, Salem, Tirupattur, Vellore, Virudhu Nagar and Tiruvallur at Rs 238 crore.

CHENNAI: Minister of Public works, Highways and Minor Ports EV Velu on Saturday reiterated that the state government has been taking up with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways the issue of closing some toll plazas on the National Highways and reducing the user fees by 40 per cent on some.

Intervening the debate on the demand for grants on the Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Department, the Minister said that every time he met the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, he had taken up the issue of toll plazas in the State.

“I have written a letter to the Union Minister on the toll plazas on March 18, this year,” he told the Assembly.

The national highways run a total distance of 6,805 km, including a 1,677 km stretch under the state national highways wing maintenance.

“There are 58 toll plazas in the state. Of them, the user fees are revised on April 1 every year in 37 toll plazas and the rest on September 1. Every time we raise the issue, the Union government replies that they are revising the user fees as per the concessionaire agreement,” he said.

Minister alleged that the NHAI has been setting up toll plazas after widening the state highways by mere 1.5 meters to 3 meters on either side.

“There are 14 such highways where the NHAI has set up toll plazas. We want the removal of such toll plazas,” he said.

He added that he also sought the closure of the toll plazas within the city corporation or municipality limits.

He said that the government also sought a reduction of the user fee to 40 per cent in the toll plazas where the expense has been recovered.

“However, it was also not done,” he said, adding that the Union Minister has told the Parliament that instead of a collection of user fees for a stretch, the users would be charged as per the km travelled basis through an app.

“DMK government has been demanding the removal of toll plazas or reduction of the user fees to 40 per cent. That is our stand,” he said.

Initiating the debate, AIADMK’s Palacode MLA KP Anbalagan raised the issue of the toll charges hike. He also wanted to know what action the government has taken on closing the toll plazas within 60 km of one another.