What land is being acquired and where
The project is the widening of the Cheyyur-Vandavasi-Polur Road, a state highway numbered SH-115. The land is being taken for the road under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, not under a central law.
The affected land lies in 2 districts, Chengalpattu and Tiruvannamalai, and in 5 taluks: Cheyyur, Maduranthagam, Vandavasi, Chetpet and Polur.
In all, 186 survey numbers in 15 villages are covered. The largest share is in Cheyyur B, with 75 survey numbers, followed by Maruthadu, with 44.
The notices and their present stage
14 notifications have been published in the state gazette under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001. The first is dated 20 July 2020 and the latest is dated 20 November 2024.
Under this Act, a notice under section 15(1) announces that the Government intends to acquire the listed land for a highway. It names the village and survey numbers, and it gives owners and interested persons an opportunity to object within the time stated in the notice.
As per the records, none of the 14 notices has been withdrawn, and none has been recorded as corrected later. The records do not show whether awards have been passed or compensation paid for any village. That must be confirmed with the land acquisition officer for the highway or at the District Collectorate concerned.
Villages covered by the notices
In Chengalpattu district, Cheyyur taluk: Cheyyur B (75 survey numbers), Mudhaliyar Kuppam (18), Soththupakkam (7) and Cheyyur B Ecr Link (Addl.-Ii) (1).
In Chengalpattu district, Maduranthagam taluk: Kattudavathur (2), and one more village in this taluk with 5 survey numbers. Owners in Maduranthagam taluk should read the gazette notice itself to confirm the village name.
In Tiruvannamalai district, Vandavasi taluk: Maruthadu (44), Salavedu (13), Kilvelliyur (2) and Vadavanakkampadi (2).
In Tiruvannamalai district, Polur taluk: Modaiyur (7), Venmani (4) and Karapoondi (2). In Chetpet taluk: Chetpet (2) and Chetpet Ii(Addl.) (2).
What to do if your land is listed
First, compare your survey and subdivision numbers against the gazette notice for your village. Use your patta, the field measurement book sketch and the village account to confirm the exact extent shown as affected. Often only a strip along the road is taken, not the whole survey number.
If you have an objection, such as a wrong extent or a wrong owner name, file it in writing with the authority named in the notice within the time it allows. Keep a copy and an acknowledgement.
For compensation, keep your title deeds, patta, encumbrance certificate and bank details ready. Compensation is determined by the competent authority under the Act after an enquiry, so attend that enquiry and place your documents and claims on record.
If you are buying land in any of these villages, ask for the survey number to be checked against all 14 notices before you pay. A sale after a notice does not stop the acquisition, and a buyer generally takes the land subject to it.