With work on phase-I of Chennai Outer Ring Road, from Vandalur to Nemilichery, nearing completion, the State government recently gave its nod for a consortium of Ashoka Buildcon and GVR Infra Projects to build phase-II, from Nemilichery to Minjur.

On completion, the 61.65-km-long road will form a semicircle around the city and help decongest Chennai’s roads. It will act as a major link and connect four national highways — NH 4, NH 5, NH 45 and NH 205.

According to sources in the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC), the managing associate for the project, the work order has been issued and the contract is to be signed with the consortium to execute the 32-km stretch.

The cost of the project, being executed under a design, finance, build, operate and transfer basis, would be Rs. 985.44 crore, of which Rs. 197 crore will be provided by the State government as project support fund.

Of the 20 years during which the company would operate the road, 2.5 years is for construction. The consortium will get six months to achieve financial closure after which it will commence work.

The various features of the road include a flyover at Red Hills–Tiruvallur Road, an interchange on the Kolkata Road at Padianallur and a bridge across the Kosasthalaiyar river near Minjur.

The end point at Minjur is on the Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetty Road, which is 10 km away from Ennore Port to which the road will provide connectivity.

According to an official, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is carrying out land acquisition for the project and of the 278.25 hectares of private land, 90 per cent has been acquired. Government land too is required for the project. The road would pass through the Sidco Industrial Estate near Vellanur.

Meanwhile, lighting on 25 km of phase-I has been completed and residents of villages such as Mannivakkam, Varadharajapuram, Nazarathpet, Kolapancheri, Amudurmedu and Thandarai have begun using the road.

“The lights are kept on to avoid accidents at night. We are unable to prevent residents from using the road. Bus shelters have been installed on one side for the entire stretch,” said a TNRDC official. The work, except on the three interchanges, is expected to be completed by October end.

It may be recalled that farmers of Karunakaracheri, Ramapuram, Annambedu and Thandarai have been protesting against the proposal to take over 100 acres of agricultural land for setting up a truck terminal abutting ORR phase-I.

Source-http://www.thehindu.com