The contract for widening Ennore Expressway, Manali Oil Refinery Road, northern segment of Inner Ring Road and Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetti Road under the Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) is expected to be awarded by the month-end.
The Tamil Nadu Road Development Company, the managing associate for the project, has received 11 bids. They are being scrutinised, sources in the TNRDC said. The tender would be finalised in 10 days.
Sources in the NHAI said the agreement with the contractor was expected to be signed by the month-end.
The Chennai Port Trust is expected to release its share of funds for the project as soon as the agreement is signed.
“Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan has written to Minister for Highways and Minor Ports Vellakoil Saminathan, stating that his Ministry's commitment will be honoured and funds released,” the sources said.
The present bids have been called for works to the tune of Rs.269 crore.
The total cost of the project is Rs.600 crore, of which Rs.80 crore has been spent on land acquisition, Rs.15 crore for utility shifting, Rs.32 crore for relief and rehabilitation efforts by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, Rs.25 crore for construction of groynes and Rs.13 crore on maintenance of the roads.
The project cost was only Rs.165 crore in 2001 but, owing to escalation and inclusion of one more road, it has gone up.
Equity contribution of the Chennai Port Trust, which was originally Rs.38 crore, is now Rs.136 crore.
