Land acquisition work begins for NH service roads

Trichy: Facing heat from residents for not completing land acquisition to construct service roads for the Trichy-Thanjavur national highway (NH), Trichy district administration has launched preliminary work to acquire land and award compensation to resolve the 14-year-old demand.Out of nine revenue villages on the 14.5km-long Palpannai to Thuvakudi stretch of the NH, the revenue department completed and notified land acquisition and compensation details for two villages - Tharanallur and Varaganeri. Around 399.3sqm of land in Tharanallur and 817.9sqm of land in Varaganeri, are to be acquired. Property owners, including 12 patta land holders, will be paid collectively 8.5 crore. "We are confident of completing land acquisition in two villages in the first phase before the assembly election. In other areas, compensation for structures besides land to be acquired is being estimated," a senior revenue official told TOI. Thuvakudi, Koothaippar, Thiruverumbur, Agaram, Ariyamangalam, Ellakudi, and Pappakurichi Kattur are the other villages where acquisition is in progress. However, locals expressed concern over the state govt reducing the road's width to 33m instead of maintaining the minimum width of 45m, as directed by the Madras high court in Oct 2019. "Only less than 5% of land is required in two villages where the acquisition is completed. In 2011, land requirement was estimated at 35.5 hectares for 60m-wide service roads, and land acquisition cost was evaluated at 84.5 crore. We want service roads minimum for 45m width," S Sakthivel, chief organiser of Federation for Retrieval of Trichy Palpannai-Thuvakudi Service Road, said.Over the years, land acquisition needs for the service roads decreased significantly, while the highway was drastically commercialised with the advent of new commercial complexes. Land acquisition work begins for Trichy-Thanjavur NH service road: Total length: 14.5km From: Palpannai To: Thuvakudi Total revenue villages: 9 Land acquisition completed: 2 Varaganeri: 817.9sqmTharanallur: 399.3sqmCompensation: Rs8.5 croreLand requirement details: 2011: Land required: 35.5 hectares Land acquisition cost: Rs 84.5 crore 2023: Land required: 15.7 hectares Land acquisition cost: Rs533 crore