The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Pranab urged to transfer defence land

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Pranab urged to transfer defence land

Special Correspondent

25 acres needed at Tambaram for constructing a bus stand

CHENNAI: Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu on Tuesday met Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi to convey Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's request to expeditiously transfer defence land here, required to speed up important infrastructure projects.

Mr. Mukherjee assured Mr. Baalu that the issues would be taken up on priority and an amicable solution found, says a Press Information Bureau release. In his letter to the Defence Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi had highlighted the urgent need to transfer 25 acres at Tambaram for a bus stand.

Mr. Baalu stressed the need for early clearance since Tambaram was being developed into a commercial hub.

The project would not only ease traffic congestion but also provide vital connectivity to Chennai from the southern parts of the State.

He also took up with the Defence Minister the issue of transfer of 4.23 acres of defence land at St. Thomas Mount Cantonment to the State Highways Department on an exchange basis. He informed Mr. Mukherjee that the State Government initiated action and requested him to consider the issue of `enter-upon permission' on the defence land for early start of these important Highway projects in Chennai, pending completion of routine formalities. If this was done, three projects could be completed at an early date.

The projects are a road under-bridge between the Pazhavanthangal and Meenambakkam railway stations, a road bridge between the Trissulam and Pallavaram stations and formation of the southern sector of the Inner Ring Road to link Old Mahabalipuram Road.

Mr. Baalu also brought to the notice of the Defence Minister the demands of residents near the Tambaram Air Force base — abolishing the 900-metre restriction on construction of houses and regularising the existing structures. He wanted the No Objection Certificate for construction issued given in Chennai and not in New Delhi.

Mr. Baalu met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to inform him of the concerns of the residents of Pozhichalur, Pammal, Ankaputhur and Couul Bazar over the expansion of the Chennai airport. More than 50,000 people would be affected.

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