Union Minister of Shipping Road Transport and Highways Department

The United Progressive Alliance, in which DMK was a Member won a landslide victory in the May 2004 Lok Sabha elections. T.R. Baalu became the Cabinet Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways on 25.5.2004 in the Union Cabinet. Important acheivements include:

• National Maritime Development Program,
• Setting up of Indian Maritime University, Chennai.
• Flyover complexes at Kattipara, in front of Chennai Airport, Padi.
• Chennai – Tada Six Lane Road.
• Fast Track implementation of Golden Quadrilateral, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
• 6 Lane National Highway in Rajasthan.
• Car Export and Container Terminal at Ennore Port.
• Container Terminals at Cochin and Chennai.

are some of the major projects completed during this period.