C Shivakumar By

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is pinning its hopes on the new government to break the deadlock over Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project.

NHAI sources told Express that the authority is unable to get funds from banks over the deadlock between the State and NHAI to resume the project.

While PWD officials say that as per the Madras High Court order NHAI can commence the work but sources in NHAI state that right now they are only clearing the bushes.

“The State government has yet to allocate 18 km of stretch to us. Till now the State government has allocated only 6 km of land. They have to hand over the stretch along the Cooum by removing the encroachments besides shifting the project affected people to alternate site,” NHAI sources said.

The source also said the six-lane Chennai-Bangalore expressway has hit a hurdle as land acquisition for the project has yet to take off.

He said that the `5,000 crore project which covers a stretch of 260 km linking Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is being delayed as land acquisition has not yet started in the State.

He said in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the land acquisition is going on. The project will be reviewed by the advisor to the Prime Minister on Monday.

Japan International Cooperation Agency Ichiguchi Tomohide said that the expressway is part of the development of Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC) and is in JICA’s perspective plan.

The project, if it comes into being, would cut down travel time and fuel consumption.

Sources said that the State government was busy with elections and a decision is likely to be taken after results are out.