Work on construction of around 600 piles has been completed from the Koyambedu to Maduravoyal section of the elevated expressway between Chennai port and Maduravoyal. Work on this section began in October last year and so far 110 pile caps and 10 piers have been completed.
According to sources in National Highways Authority of India, in section-I from Chennai Port to Koyambedu, which runs along the river Cooum, 150 piles and 10 pile caps have been constructed. The work on this section began in March this year after CRZ clearance was received. On an average 10 piles are being constructed every day by the contractor Soma Construction Pvt Ltd.
When completed, the 19 km-long four-lane facility, coming up at a cost of Rs.1345 crore, is expected to reduce travel time between the Chennai Port and Maduravoyal.
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The project is being implemented on a build, own and transfer basis. The concessionaire would operate road and the tolling operations for a period of 15 years after which it would hand it back to the NHAI.
Though work is progressing and about 10 per cent of the total work has been completed so far, officials said that only if the land acquisition is completed by September would the project be completed on time by September 2013. A total of 6,100 families living along the alignment of the expressway are to be shifted. Already 1,300 families have been shifted to Kannagi Nagar. Two-wheeler and autorickshaw spare parts shops of Pudupet would be shifted to Auto Nagar in Maraimalai Nagar.