Elevated corridor on NH5 likely if T.N. waives GST on construction materials

There remains a glimmer of hope for the construction of a 10.4-km-long elevated corridor from Madhavaram to Nallur toll plaza. Sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that the project would be revived if the State government waived its portion of the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) for the proposed project. 

“Around 60% of the cost would go towards materials, which attract GST and 9% on that is not much in terms of tax. The State government wants this project and so it would be their contribution towards the same. The land acquisition, if any, would be very minimal,” said a source. 

In February this year, during a meeting held by the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways with the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the NHAI accepted to take up the elevated corridor project, subject to a waiver of the State’s component of GST. Accordingly, the modalities of implementation were being finalised along with the updation of the DPR, an official source explained. 

S. Suresh Babu, president of Billakuppam Village Residents Welfare Association, said that he had written to various offices, including the President of India, requesting for the construction of a corridor. “We hope the project will be taken up shortly and completed on time. The stretch has several traffic junctions that slow down vehicular movement considerably. Local vehicles fight for space among the thousands of heavy vehicles taking the National Highway,” he said. 

A retired highways department official said that instead of an elevated corridor, it would be better to construct three flyovers at Puzhal covering Retteri Road, at Kavankarai and at Sothupakkam junction covering Revathy Stores junction. 

“An elevated corridor would unnecessarily lead to toll plazas, and the cost would be much higher than three flyovers. Since around 60% of vehicles taking the road are two-wheelers, an elevated corridor would not be of any help. Whereas the flyovers at these locations would help reduce congestion at five junctions,” he explained.