Poor laying of roads: action initiated against officials

Issues identified in nine of the 25 sites surveyed; officials suspended

The Tamil Nadu government has identified poor laying of road infrastructure in nine of the 25 sites surveyed and has placed officials concerned under suspension. Tenders for those projects have been cancelled and departmental action has been initiated against officials, Minister for Highways E.V. Velu announced in the Assembly on Friday. Mr. Velu was responding to concerns raised by VCK legislator S.S. Balaji (Thiruporur), who said the quality of some roads was quite poor, and had sought action. Mr. Velu said the Highways Department had identified 25 sites for surveying on the advice of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, and in nine of them, it was found that the road infrastructure was poorly laid. The Chief Minister alerted him as early as 6 a.m. after watching a news report about people protesting against a poorly laid road in Sivaganga district, he said.