SOLUTIONS: Local Administration Minister, M.K. Stalin (left) and Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu (right), get a briefing from the Chennai Corporation Commissioner, M.P. Vijayakumar, in Chennai on Monday. — PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN

CHENNAI: Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu and Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, on Monday said the Central and the State Governments would take efforts to make Chennai a `level crossing-free' city.

Addressing mediapersons at the Southern Railway headquarters after inspecting three railway level crossings in North Chennai and holding discussions with Railway, Corporation and Metrowater authorities, Mr. Stalin said he had asked government agencies concerned to expedite works to replace five railway level crossings in the city. Another three level crossings will be taken up in the next financial year.

Works are expected to commence this year for a railway overbridge at Kathivakkam (at estimated Rs. 10.55 crore), vehicular subway at Villivakkam level crossing 2 (at estimated Rs. 13.86 crore), railway overbridge at Rangarajapuram (at Rs. 15.2 crore), subway at Korrukupet (Rs. 4.3 crore) and subway Maniakara Choultry Road near Stanley Medical College (Rs 9.25 crore).

Allegation

Mr. Stalin charged the previous AIADMK regime with neglecting traffic improvements in the city.

Mr. Velu said that under ideal conditions, railway subways or over-bridges were necessary for all level crossings where the vehicular passage count exceeded a lakh a day. The vehicular count in the eight level crossings far exceeded the number though. The projects would be taken up with equal funding from Railways Board and the Chennai Corporation.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Velu and Mr. Stalin undertook inspection of railway level crossings at Maniakara Choultry Road, Kathivakkam and Korrukupet where works are to commence soon. North Chennai MP C. Kuppusamy, Purasawalkam MLA V.S. Babu, Deputy Mayor R. Thiagarajan, DMK councillors C.V. Malayan and P.V. Kalyanasundaram, accompanied them.

Senior Corporation and Railway officials explained the details regarding the proposals. At the meeting at Southern Railway headquarters, Metrowater officials joined the Railway and Corporation officials to discuss details about the progress of the projects.

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