CHENNAI: The Centre is "seriously considering" a Rs. 22,750-crore project to lay six-lane roads, covering 6,500 km of national highways, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said on Sunday.

"The proposal has been mooted on the direction of the Prime Minister [Manmohan Singh]. It will be implemented on the design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) basis instead of the build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis," Mr. Baalu told presspersons, after inspecting the works implemented by the National Highways Authority of India in and around Chennai.

The project would cover those highways that carried traffic of 40,000 passenger car units (PCU) a day. It would shortly be cleared by the competent authorities.

Asked about land acquisition for highway projects in and around the city, Mr. Baalu hoped that the State Government would make available the required land "as quickly as possible."

"I am not for any confrontation with the State Government, though I would not like to wait endlessly."

The NHAI is awaiting approval from the State Government for the transfer of land belonging to the Small Industries Development Corporation (for the Kathipara flyover) and the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (for Koyambedu).

He said approval of the Defence Ministry and the Airports Authority of India had been received for a flyover near the Chennai airport.

Sethusamudram project

About 10 companies, including five foreign firms, had cleared the pre-qualification stage for participation in bids for dredging for the Sethusamudram project. Mr. Baalu said by the end of next month, selection of contractors would be over. By mid-November, work orders would be issued.

(The work involves dredging 70 million cubic metres at three sites in the Palk Strait and Adam's Bridge over a distance of 75 km. The work on dredging 13.55 million cubic metres has been assigned to the Dredging Corporation of India). So far, the Corporation has dredged 14 lakh cubic metres.

Mr. Baalu reiterated that the dredging caused no harm to the environment. Scientists of the Alagappa University, Karaikudi, closely monitored environmental parameters. A memorandum of understanding would soon be signed with the Panama Canal Authority for sharing of expertise. It would also provide for training of manpower. "The Union Government has to give the date for the signing of the MoU," he said. A maritime university would also be set up, he said.

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