The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Petition seeks transfer of Pallavaram subway land

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Petition seeks transfer of Pallavaram subway land

Special Correspondent

Court orders notices to seven respondents including the NHAI

CHENNAI: A public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to the Pallavaram municipal administration to hand over about 100 sq.m. of land to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the pedestrian subway, under construction, has been filed in the Madras High Court.

Admitting the petition filed by the former municipal councillor of Pallavaram, E. Karunanidhi, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Markandey Katju and Justice A. Kulasekaran ordered notices to seven respondents including the NHAI, Municipal Administration Secretary and the Collector of Kancheepuram district.

In his petition, Mr. Karunanidhi submitted that about 90 per cent of the Rs. 2.48-crore project had been completed by the NHAI and only an approach staircase needed to be constructed.

Municipality resolution

But works could not proceed further because the Pallavaram municipality had adopted a resolution on January 12, refusing to grant permission to the NHAI to construct the approach staircase.

"The NHAI has been prevented by the municipality from erecting a staircase on the eastern side in the land belonging to the municipality," the petitioner said, adding that it was done because the municipal chairman owed allegiance to a particular political party. He alleged that the chairman was trying to stall the project for political purposes. The resolution smacked of arbitrariness, he said.

The municipal administration was only denying the benefit of the subway to the public by taking objection to its construction, the petitioner said.

`Acquire land'

Accusing the chairman of inaction, the petitioner prayed for direction to the NHAI and other State Government authorities to acquire the land in question by invoking emergency provisions or hand over the land to the NHA "at any reasonable terms" to facilitate construction of the subway project across National Highway 45. He also sought direction to the NHAI to complete the project and to open the subway for public use within the timeframe fixed by the court.

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