Chennai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for elevated road from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal (NH 4) at Chennai on Thursday.

Laying the foundation stone of the ambitious project spanning a total length of 19 km, the Prime Minister said that project will transform the transport sector, give a boost to industry and integrate the economy.

"The longest elevated corridor project in the country is aimed at quick and continuous dispersal of freight in to and out of Chennai Port to other parts of the country via the GQ corridor," Singh said.

Under the project, the river Cooum would also get beautified by this project, the Prime Minister said, adding that about 12,000 families of the weaker sections especially the slum dwellers are going to be rehabilitated by providing alternative shelters.

The Government of Tamil Nadu and Chennai Port Trust have agreed to share equally the cost of land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement of slum dwellers.

"This project shows that constructing modern highways in urban areas must be organically linked to local development, city planning and landscaping and livelihood opportunities for weaker sections," the Prime Minister stated.

This four lane elevated corridor is being taken up by National Highways Authority of India on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
—iGovernment Bureau