PM inaugurates North-South highway project

KANNIYAKUMARI, TAMIL NADU, Feb 2 (UNI) Describing roads as the "lines on the palm," prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that the ambitious Golden Quadrilateral project and North-South and East-West Coridor connecting important cities with super highways were being completed in an unprecedented speed.

The centre had taken up these two important projects and another scheme for developing 10,000 KM under the prime minister's Bharat Jodo programme, he said performing "boomipooja" (ground breaking) for the Kanniyakumari-Madurai stretch of the NH-7 here.

Sharing the platform with Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, after the BJP renewed alliance with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, Vajpayee virtually kicked off the party's campaign in the state by highlighting the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government and praising the cooperation of the Tamil Nadu government for the road projects.

"We have given stability and good governance during the last five years.

Our nation is strong in security and development.

The country had become one of the fastest growing economies.

The development of national highways was one among various initiatives taken up by his government for speedy development," he added.

"There is a line of destiny which is going to join Srinagar to Kanniyakumari.

We want to see that day when we start from Kanniyakumari and reach Srinagar with ease," the prime minister said at the function.

Sharing the dias with the prime minister was Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, who described Vajpayee as a "visionary leader."