The Hindu 16.04.2010
Rs. 1,000 crore for improving roads
Staff Reporter
| In 11 urban local bodies in the State |
— Photo: K. Ganesan. 
The beginning:M.S. Srinivasan, Advisor (Roads) of Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, addressing a meeting in Madurai on Thursday.
MADURAI: The State Government has made an initial allocation of Rs. 1,000 crore to improve roads in 11 urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu to international standards.
Addressing news persons here on Thursday, Advisor (Roads), Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, M.S. Srinivasan, said that urban local bodies of Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Kumbhakonam, Mayiladuturai, Karur, Inam Karur, Tiruppur, Tiruchi, Alandur and Valasarawakkam.
Unlike the normal road re-laying work taken up by the local bodies, this project envisaged provision of storm water drainage, pavement for pedestrians, streetlights, signage, junction improvements and dedicated ducts for telephone cables.
Mr. Srinivasan said that the contractor who lays the road would have the responsibility of maintaining it for five years. “Local bodies will not have any additional financial commitment on this account,” he said. The project did not envisage any land acquisition also.
At an interactive meeting with members of public and councillors, the representative of the consultant said that 1,000 km of roads would be re-laid in the city.
Mayor G. Thenmozhi, Corporation Commissioner S. Sebastine, Chief Engineer K. Sakthivel, councillors and officials participated in the meeting.