Highways minister E V Velu has directed officials to fast-track the completion of key road infrastructure projects in and around Chennai, including ECR, Tiruvallur-Chennai-Tirupati stretch, and the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated expressway.
In a review meeting on Monday, chaired by Velu and revenue minister K K S S R Ramachandran with district collectors, the focus was on removing bottlenecks causing delays. Key challenges such as land acquisition, encroachments, and high-tension power line relocations were identified as primary hurdles.
Velu stressed the need to resolve these issues, particularly the pending 490-m clearance from the Army for the Maduravoyal expressway and encroachments along the Tiruvallur-Chennai route. One major concern was the relocation of high-tension power lines affecting a 31-km road project. Velu instructed Kancheepuram and Ranipet district collectors to expedite the process to complete construction.The progress of five key national highway projects was also reviewed. Officials were directed to fill vacant positions in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Authority (CALA) and accelerate compensation for landowners.
