The Hindu 10.04.2013
Decks cleared for acquisition of land for Adambakkam station
But stumbling blocks for Velachery-Mount MRTS line remain.
All 24 property owners of land acquired for Adambakam MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) station will receive compensation shortly.
The revenue department conducted an award enquiry into land acquisition for Adambakkam railway station in December 2012. The release of the money is expected to complete the acquisition of private lands measuring 3,038 sq. m. near Adambakkam station.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) directed the special tahsildar for land acquisition to release money and take possession of the land required for Adambakkam MRTS station.
However, some legal wrangles continue to obstruct the development of the MRTS link between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount. Land acquisition for a standalone alignment of 500 metres and for Puzhuthivakkam station is yet to be completed.
The process was expected to be completed by February but legal proceedings delayed the acquisition and alienation of over 23,466 sq. m. of land needed for the Velachery-St. Thomas Mount line.
A writ petition pertaining to the project by residents had already delayed the project by 18 months. The CMDA is trying to convince the court that the project is crucial to the development of the metropolitan area. “We have filed our counter,” said a CMDA official. Work on improving the Adambakkam station may be taken up after the land acquisition process is completed. But work on the other incomplete portions of the 5-km stretch will be delayed further.
Private land measuring 6,550 sq. m. along the standalone rail alignment and 8,462 sq. m. near Puzhuthivakkam station were identified, but the acquisition is likely to be delayed because of opposition by 27 land owners affected by the standalone alignment and seven affected by work on Puzhuthivakkam railway station.
The land acquisition process resumed last year after a Court stay was vacated. Residents began protesting after the original alignment was changed a few years ago.
