Kiran Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry came in support of the appeal by V Vaithilingam, Lok Sabha MP, to the Railways to expedite work on four projects connecting the Union Territory to Cuddalore, Mahabalipuram, Tindivanam and Karaikal to Peralam.
The MP had appealed Piyush Goyal, Union Railway Minister on laying of the new lines connecting Puducherry-Cuddalore, Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Puducherry-Cuddalore along the East Coast Road, Puducherry-Tindivanam and Karaikal-Peralam.
The LG backing the appeal by Vaithilingam also asked the Railway Minister to help Puducherry, a popular tourist destination, to get better rail connectivity. “Every day, the region is losing precious lives in road accidents besides suffering from traffic congestion,” Bedi said.
Meanwhile, the weekend inspections that are conducted by the LG are set to take up a major ongoing PWD project from the following week. The inspection site would be revealed two days before the visit. Bedi said the heads-up would ensure that managers/contractors keep ready project details for presentation. The decision was taken after a meeting between the LG and Shurbir Singh, PWD Secretary.
As the participation of the concerned ministers would help align the work of all the agencies involved, the LG said that a standing invite would be extended to the Ministers concerned.
Bedi added, “Our objective is to improve and sustain all-round progress and work together without delays. This oversight will also save over-runs (of projects) and retain them within budgetary limits.”
