Acquisition of less than four acres of land delays MRTS II Phase extension

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The Rs 495 crore Phase II extension of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St Thomas Mount has been hit due to legal issues over acquisition of land.

CMDA sources told Express  that CMDA is facing hurdles in acquiring less than four acres of land in the 5km stretch due to legal wrangles.

This comes in the wake of a meeting held on June 26 to review the process of land acquisition to implement the project.

The project has been delayed by nearly two years. Sources said the project is important as the impact of the MRTS could be felt only if the system is extended at least up to St Thomas Mount to complete a rail loop.

The project envisages development of the elevated MRTS on single pillars along the median of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) from MBI Road to St Thomas Road for a distance of about 5 km.

The state government is sharing the 33 per cent of cost while 67 per cent is shared by Union government. The project envisages construction of two intermediate stations Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam.

“We had won the case after a single judge delivered a verdict in our favour. Now the landowners have opposed it and the issue is pending before the court,” said the CMDA official.

CMDA officials said that currently 6,550 square metres of standalone alignment is pending in court. Besides this 8,400 square metres of land in Puzhuthivakam is pending before the court. Interestingly, CMDA has acquired 3,000 square metres of land for Adambakam railway station and it is being handed over to Metropolitan Transport Project (Railways).

“We have everything in place and once the court issues the order, the land will be acquired,” he said.

Box:

Length: 5.00 KMs (Double Line) Fully Elevated

Alignment: Follows on the median of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) upto 3.585 Km, except for a small portion near Medavakkam Road. Beyond 3.585 Km it deviates away from IRR and passes through private built up areas and terminates at St Thomas Mount station at 5km at elevated level

MRTS PH-II EXTENSION STATIONS

Velacheri (19.340 km) Surface

Puzhithivakkam (21.190 km) Elevated

Adambakkam (22.190 km) Elevated

St. Thomas Mount (23.980km) elevated

ESTIMATED COST : Rs. 495.74 Cr.

Pending land acquisition:

Stand alone alignment: 6,550 square metres

Puzhuthivakkam: 8,400 square metres

(4,046 square metres is one acre)