ECR to Be Converted to 4-Lane with Rs 10,000 Crore

Puducherry, Jan 13 (PTI) Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today said the Centre is planning to lay a four-lane National Highway converting the East Coast Road (ECR) between Kanyakumari and Chennai with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore.

Laying the foundation of the approaches to a road-over bridge in neighbouring Villianoor, the Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways said the proposal to convert the ECR was aimed at decongesting traffic.

Puducherry, through which the ECR passes, would also stand to benefit by this conversion as the flow of tourists and pilgrims on this segment would increase, he said.

The Minister said there was also a proposal to introduce inland water ways between Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry.

He inaugurated a major bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 12.84 crores in Karaikal.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy presided over the function.