Updated on: Sunday, November 14, 2010
As part of the second University Day celebrations, the Indian Maritime University (IMU) organised a maiden marathon on Sunday to create awareness about climatic changes, energy conservation and the efforts taken to reduce greenhouse gases effect.
Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan flagged off the 3.5-km ‘IMU Marathon 2010' in which 1,500 students from IMU and affiliated colleges took part. The marathon started from Lighthouse and culminated at Labour Statute.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Vasan said that steps were being taken on priority basis to repair the damaged road on the Ennore-Manali stretch and to start the road improvement project at the earliest, as they do not want to cause further inconvenience to the public.
Chennai Port Trust Chairman, Atulya Misra, said that tender has been invited for the patch work and National Highways Authority of India has floated separate tender for Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP). Both the tenders would be finalised by the month-end.
Ennore Port Chairman-cum-Managing Director, S. Velumani said “it is becoming extremely difficult to travel on this stretch. Over Rs.1 crore has been sanctioned for the repair work. The work was delayed due to continuous rains and efforts are being taken to complete it at the earliest.”
IMU Vice-Chancellor P. Vijayan said that the Centre had sanctioned Rs.282 crore in the 11th Plan period to build the infrastructure of IMU that consisted of several blocks at Semmanjeri. Administrative Block would be completed by February 2011; academic and hostel blocks by November 2011 and Boat Club by the year end. Initially, a sum of Rs.10 crore has been allotted for the Boat Club and water sports that would come up on 25 acres of land.
On the maiden marathon, he said that it would be an annual feature from now onwards. Though they wanted to conduct it up to their campus, they could not do so, due to police restrictions.