Karunanidhi seeks people’s support on Sethu

(October 29, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said if the Congress led alliance, which also includes DMK win the next Lok Sabha elections, the Sethusamudran project would see the light of the day.

Inaugurating the grade separator at the Kathipara junction here on Sunday, he said the government needs people’s support to implement various projects including construction of more bridges.

The Kathipara flyover would provide a great relief to motorists and vehicle users should avoid over speeding particularly on flyovers, he said.

Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu said in Tamilnadu the fatality rate was 8.9 per lakh.

The Ministry had decided to set up National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board to bring down the accident rate in the country. The board would be set up in all the States, he said.

‘The Ministry had also set up driving institutes in 13 States to provide better training for the drivers,’ he added.

The total cost of the grade separator is Rs 260 crore and the civil work cost Rs 83.50 crore. The length of the main arm is 1,411 metre and the total length of the main arm with four loops is 2,745 metre.

Baalu said ‘the new grade separator at Kathipara junction is the first one in India with four loops built by NHAI. This flyover will reduce time taken to reach the airport.

The Padi flyover will be opened by January 2009 and Koyambedu flyover will be opened in March 2009,’ he said.

TNCC president K V Thangka Balu, Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme implementation G K Vasan, Union Minister of Parliament Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Tamilnadu Labour Minister T M Anbarasan also participated. - Sri Lanka Guardian