Union Minister for Highways and Road Transport Pon. Radhakrishnan on Saturday offered to declare and upgrade the entire ECR, which connects Chennai with Kanyakumari, into a National Highway if the State government submits necessary proposals. At present, only 153 km of the 738.4-km stretch is National Highway.
He was speaking at a review meeting with the State officials where he expressed concern over the “slow progress” of the ongoing NHAI projects in Tamil Nadu and wanted better coordination from the State. He made his unhappiness clear at the way in which the projects were being handled in Tamil Nadu.
A press release issued later said projects consisting nearly 1000 km and worth Rs. 7,000 crore were moving at a slow pace.