The Tamil Nadu government has issued a no-objection certificate for the Chennai Port- Maduravoyal elevated corridor project, reported The Times of India.
This comes after a realignment was recommended by a committee set up to look into the issues highlighted by the state and a day before Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In 2011, the government led by AIADMK had stalled the project citing environmental issues.
Plans to revive the project came after persuasion from the Centre.
The Union Minister of state for road transport Pon Radhakrishnan told TOI that the cost of the project had doubled and there are plans to extend it by 10km.
A senior NHAI official said that the plan was modified to take the alignment to the edge of Cooum river than the bed itself which was earlier objected to, by the state.
Further, a new tender will be floated for the construction and the work is expected to begin in six months.
While the project is set to cross the metro rail alignment in Koyambedu, about 7400 families will reportedly be affected by the project.
The New Indian Express had reported that the immediate challenge for the project is acquisition of private land, which can only be initiated after the state government releases funds.
The NHAI said that the land acquisition cost will be borne by the government and Chennai port.
Work will start only after 1.47 hectares of private land are acquired. Besides, 458 commercial establishments and 7400 slums have to be evicted.