Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa lauded the efforts of Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu for obtaining the Centre’s sanction for the Washermenpet-Tiruvottiyur-Wimco Nagar metro rail project.
“Venkaiah’s role was important and I was firm that he should participate in the inauguration of the works. As the Parliament is in session, I instructed the officials to schedule the function on Saturday to enable him to attend the function. I am really glad that he took part in the function”, she said.
The Chief Minister recalled that she flagged off the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch of the metro rail works on 29 June last year and she had invited Venkaiah for it. But, the Union Minister was unable to attend that function as he had gone abroad on official reasons. “Venkaiah is a good friend of Tamil Nadu. He is the first in protecting Tamil Nadu’s welfare and obtaining centre’s approval for the state’s schemes”, she said. When Venkaiah met her on 5 September 2014, she had discussed the demands of Tamil with him. She had also requested the central minister to get approval for Washermenpet-Tiruvottiyur-Wimco Nagar metro rail scheme.
The Central and state government officials discussed the project following his advice and based on the discussion, the Urban Development ministry recommended the project and got Venkaiah’s approval.
When Venkaiah met the CM on 13 December 2015 to discuss flood relief, he informed her that his ministry had approved the metro rail project and had forwarded it to the Union finance ministry for approval. He also assured to take action for speedy approval of the project by the finance ministry, Jayalalithaa said.
