After long battle, expansion of inner ring road commences

The land, which was owned by CeeDeeYes Standard Towers (P) Limited, Adyar, is located opposite the Vijayanagar Bus Stand in Velachery. It was acquired by the Highways Department on Tuesday, following the order issued by the Chennai District Collector, V Anbuselvan. 

Speaking about this, Nirmala D, Special Tahsildar of Highways Department said, “The delay in acquiring the land was due to the pendency of the case in the Madras High Court. We had notified this land for acquisition in 2003 for formation and widening of the Inner Ring Road. The land notified measured 17.5 cents (three grounds). But the land owner approached the Court in 2003. The case was finalised only on 2016. On behalf of the government, two notices were sent to the owners this year – one on February 16 and another in September 23. On Tuesday, the land was officially handed over to the Highways Department for the roadworks.” 

Residents of the locality too were thrilled when the earth mover machines were removing the structures. Kumararaja, Vice President, Federation of Velachery Residents Welfare Association said, “Due to the presence of these structures, the road space was inadequate. Since this is a busy road, this part of the thoroughfare becomes a traffic bottleneck, creating huge problems for the vehicular movement.”