NH 744 Greenfield Highway DPR Submitted To NHAI For Remaining Stretches

The Detailed Project Report for the remaining phases of NH 744’s Kadambattukonam, Edamon-linked greenfield highway development has been finalised and submitted to the National Highways Authority of India for consideration, N.K. Premachandran, MP, has said.

The update came after high-level discussions in New Delhi between Mr. Premachandran and NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav.

DPR covers unfinished stretches

The project is part of a ₹27,000 crore infrastructure initiative to develop the NH 744 Greenfield Highway, including the Kadambattukonam, Edamon stretch.

The total NH 744 corridor connecting Kadambattukonam to Madurai spans 201 km.

Construction has already been completed on the 71-km Madurai, Rajapalayam section.

The stretches still to be completed are the Rajapalayam, Tenkasi section of 68 km, the Tenkasi, Edamon section of 23 km, and the Edamon, Kadambattukonam section of 39 km.

The DPR has been finalised and submitted specifically for the execution of these remaining phases.

Forest stretch needs court clearance

Mr. Premachandran said a significant part of the Tenkasi, Edamon section passes through forested mountain ranges of the Western Ghats.

He said this area forms part of a wildlife sanctuary, making special clearance from the Supreme Court mandatory for the stretch.

“A significant portion of the construction for the Tenkasi, Edamon section passes through the forested mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, which form part of a wildlife sanctuary. Consequently, special clearance from the Supreme Court is mandatory for this stretch, and a petition seeking this approval has already been filed and is currently under review. Steps have also been initiated to secure the requisite clearance from the State Wildlife Board,” said the MP.

The project plan for this segment includes four tunnels.

These include three large tunnels and one small tunnel.

Approvals before Cabinet stage

After Supreme Court approval is secured, the proposal will be reviewed by the Public Private Partnership appraisal committee.

The committee is headed by the Expenditure Secretary and has five Union government Secretaries as members.

Following clearance from the committee, the project will be submitted for Union Cabinet approval.

Mr. Premachandran said NHAI officials gave an assurance during the discussions on the next steps after Union Cabinet approval.

“NHAI officials assured during the discussions that once Union Cabinet approval is granted, steps to disburse compensation to landowners will be expedited, alongside proceedings for acquiring the remaining land. The officials have been requested to fast-track all administrative procedures to ensure timely compensation for landowners, so that land acquisition and construction work can commence as quickly as possible,” he said.

The sequence set out in the discussions places Supreme Court clearance, State Wildlife Board clearance, PPP appraisal committee review and Union Cabinet approval before land compensation, remaining land acquisition and construction can move ahead.

For landowners, the immediate significance is that NHAI officials have linked faster compensation and acquisition proceedings to the grant of Union Cabinet approval.

For the corridor, the DPR submission marks movement on the unfinished portions after completion of the Madurai, Rajapalayam section.

Source: The Hindu