Land acquisition for 48 stations under 2nd Phase of Chennai Metro begins

Properties to be acquired under Tamil Nadu Acquisition of land for Industrial Purposes Act

 Chennai:

The land acquisition for Rs 85,000 crore Second Phase of Chennai Metro has begun but the land will be acquired under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act 1997 rather than The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (also Land Acquisition Act, 2013) to ensure the entire process is carried out smoothly.

A Metro Rail official told Express that they will be acquiring 86 acres of land for 55km stretch for Corridor 3 and 5 planned under the Second Phase but the compensation for the land acquired will be not be paid under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act 1997.

“We will be paying compensation under the The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013," said sources acquiring land for the project.

It is learnt that majority of the land which will be acquired for the project will be government land.

A Metro rail spokesman said that notices are being issued for the proposed 48 stations. “We have issued 410 notices for the proposed 19 stations and will be issuing 400 more for the proposed 29 stations,” the spokesman said.

It is learnt that notices have been issued to residents and commercial establishments in Madhavaram, Sembium, Perumbur, Otteri, Sterling road and near Gemini flyover in Nungambakkam, Chepet and Purusaiwalkam where corridor 3 and 5 is planned. Initially, only 55km of the 107.55km will be taken up under the second phase.

Notices have been issued for acquiring land for developing Madhavaram yard and stations. On Monday, Chennai Metro issued notices to acquiring land for Chetpet Metro Station, Sterling Road junction Metro Station, Nungambakkam Metro Station, Gemini Metro Station, Purusaiwalkam Metro Station etc.

Chennai Metro Rail has already submitted a revised Detailed Project Report seeking Rs 80,000 crore for implementing the Second Phase of Chennai Metro which will have three corridors.

These include Madhavaram-Siruseri, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT)-Lighthouse and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur. Interestingly, the project from Lighthouse near Marina Beach to Poonamallee in the city outskirts is being added at an additional cost of 3,850 crore.

While the land is being acquired, the Detailed Project Report has yet to get the approval from the Centre as the state has yet to come up with revised Comprehensive Urban Mobility  under the National Transit Oriented Development Policy.

Sources indicated that Chennai Metro Rail has started the work to prepare a Comprehensive Urban Mobility Plan after funds worth Rs 2.12 crore was sanctioned for the project .

Factfile:

1. A total of 55km of stretch under Second phase will be implemented

2. Most of the land acquired will be government properties

3. The land will be acquired under Tamil Nadu Acquisition for Land for Industrial Purposes Act 1997 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1999) and compensation will be paid as per the new land acquisition act of 2013.

4. A total of 86 acres of land has to be acquired for the project which mostly would be underground stretch.