Deccan Chronicle 04.11.2009

State plans major drive to acquire land for flyovers

Chennai, Nov. 3: To ensure that the ongoing flyover works in the city were not hit by land acquisition and encroachment disputes, a high-level meeting comprising officials from Chennai collectorate, revenue department and city corporation was held at the Ripon Buildings on Tuesday to organise a major land acquisition drive.

According to mayor M. Subramanian, 7.5 grounds of land at Cenetoph Road near Nandanam was required for widening the approach roads. The corporation had identified 26 properties for acquisition. The property owners approached the court against the acquisition. Recently, the court passed orders in favour of the Chennai Corporation. Subsequently land acquisition drive began on Monday and will be completed by Wednesday. Before the end of this month, the new flyover will be thrown open for public by chief minister M Karunanidhi, he said.

Similarly, the corporation would acquire 21 grounds of encroached land along the bund of Adyar river to ensure that the stormwater flow into the river was not affected during monsoon. A private farm owner has been cultivating spinach at a sprawling area of 41 grounds in the middle of Adyar river. A team of revenue and corporation officials would visit the spot on Wednesday near Saidapet and verify the patta and documents available with the private farm. If the patta and land deed were found invalid, the corporation would take over the spinach garden, the mayor said.