The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Stress on cordial Centre-State ties for growth

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Thursday, Apr 10, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Stress on cordial Centre-State ties for growth

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister inaugurates National Highways Authority of India projects in Chennai

Except for Sethusamudram, all of Annadurai’s dreams now a reality, says Karunanidhi
Tamil Nadu’s model of development being followed in many other States: Stalin

— Photo: A. Muralitharan

Impetus to development: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi inaugurating National Highways Authority of India’s projects in Tambaram on Wednesday. Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin is in the picture.

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said amicable ties between Central and State governments were crucial to implementing development projects.

Speaking at a function in Tambaram where he inaugurated projects executed by the National Highways Authority of India at a cost of Rs.122 crore, he said: “Ties between the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and alliance parties are based on principles. This relationship is respected by all alliance partners. The rule of parties in power at the Centre and State should continue so that people in Tamil Nadu would continue to receive many more such development projects.”

The Chief Minister said when the DMK was in power in 1971, the State government announced that every village with a population of more than 1,500 should be provided with link roads to connect it with highways. This eligibility criterion was brought down to 1,000 when the party came back to power in 1989. And when it returned to power in 1996, link roads connecting villages with highways were provided to all villages with a population of just 500. “Today, our rivals can travel in an aircraft and see for themselves the facilities created in the villages,” he added.

Mr. Karunanidhi recalled his 20-day tour of Europe long ago, when he had seen massive projects. Facilities similar to advanced countries were made possible in Chennai today due to the cooperation between the Central and State governments.

“I came to Chennai from Tiruvarur more than 50 years ago. The city’s skyline and appearance has changed vastly,” Mr. Karunanidhi remarked. Stating that infrastructure had developed a lot when Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin was the city’s Mayor, he said it was now the turn of South Chennai to be bestowed with several projects.

He said but for the Sethu Samudram project, all of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s dreams had now become a reality. In the past four years, the Centre had allotted Rs.13,842 crore for developing National Highways.

Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said his Ministry had embarked on a massive mission for safety on National Highways.

A sum of Rs.733 crore would be spent on building 140 hospitals throughout the country to treat road accident victims.

Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s model of development was being followed in many other States in the country. Kancheepuram district, he said, had benefited immensely due to implementation of development and infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister inaugurated a portion of NHAI’s grade separator at Kathipara intersection. He also laid the foundation stone for a foot overbridge at Chromepet.

Audience stunned

The well-attended gathering were taken aback during the welcome speech by Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Department of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, who described Mr. Stalin as “Local Administration Minister of Karnataka.” Ministers Vellakoil Saminathan and T.M. Anbarasan and Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy were present. N. Gokulram, Chairman, NHAI, proposed a vote of thanks.

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