Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Friday urged union Urban Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu to include 12 cities in the state under the central government’s smart city programme.
She also requested Naidu who called on her at the state secretariat to include Srirangam (her assembly constituency) to the list of heritage cities to be developed by the central government.
According to a state government media release, Naidu discussed various issues relating to urban development and urban infrastructure in Tamil Nadu with Jayalalithaa.
Naidu appreciated her pioneering efforts in the area of rain water harvesting, water recycling and desalination projects which have provided useful models for the rest of India.
During the meeting, Jayalalithaa also sought the central government’s support for two desalination projects to be set up here, one with 150 million litres per day (MLD) capacity and another 400 MLD involving a total outlay of Rs.5,443 crore.
She also sought clearance and funding for various urban infrastructure projects involving an investment of Rs.26,000 crore.
The chief minister also requested an early clearance of the 9.051 km extension of Corridor-I of the Chennai Metro Rail Project up to Thiruvottriyur and Wimco Nagar at an estimated updated cost of Rs.3,770 crore.
In addition, she also sought implementation of the phase-II of the Chennai Metro Rail project covering three corridors with a total distance of 76 km at a tentative cost of Rs.36,100 crore.
She also addressed a detailed letter to Naidu outlining the requests and proposals of the her government which are pending with the ministry of urban development, housing and urban poverty alleviation.