What land is being acquired and where
The land is being taken to widen State Highway 23 between Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur. Because this is a state road, the acquisition is made under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, and the notices appear in the Tamil Nadu state gazette.
The acquisition covers 209 survey numbers in 10 villages. These villages fall in Kuthalam taluk of Mayiladuthurai district, Nagapattinam taluk of Nagapattinam district, and Nannilam taluk of Thiruvarur district.
Most of the affected survey numbers are in Nannilam taluk. Vandaampalai alone accounts for 68 survey numbers, followed by Visalur with 39 and Peralam with 35.
The notices and their stage
We have found 8 notifications for this project, all issued under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001. The first is dated 21 March 2020 and the most recent is dated 9 January 2026.
Most of the notices were issued in 2020 and 2021. The notice of 9 January 2026 shows that acquisition for this road was still being notified for at least one village in 2026.
A notification under the Highways Act records the Government's decision to acquire the listed survey numbers for the highway. Under this Act, once the land is notified and the procedure is completed, it vests in the Government and the owner becomes entitled to compensation fixed under the Act.
None of the 8 notices has been withdrawn, and none is recorded as corrected by a later notice. Our records do not show whether compensation has been paid or whether possession has been taken in any village. That must be confirmed with the land acquisition office.
Villages covered by the notices
In Nannilam taluk, Thiruvarur district: Vandaampalai (68 survey numbers), Visalur (39), Peralam (35), Nelakkudi (12), Moongilkkudi (8) and Panangudi (1).
In Kuthalam taluk, Mayiladuthurai district: Arivaloor (22 survey numbers) and Thirunalkondachery (3).
In Nagapattinam taluk, Nagapattinam district: Kangalanchery (20 survey numbers) and Raranthimangalam (1).
No survey number in any of these villages has been withdrawn from acquisition so far as our records show.
What to do if your land is listed
First, check the exact survey number and subdivision against the gazette notice for your village. A notice often takes only part of a survey number, so compare the extent shown in the notice with your patta and the FMB sketch.
If you own the land, keep your title deeds, patta, chitta, adangal and encumbrance certificate ready. Compensation under the Act is paid to the person whose title is established, so gaps in the records can delay payment.
For compensation and status, contact the land acquisition officer named in the notice, or the office of the District Collector or Tahsildar for your taluk. Do not rely on figures quoted by brokers or neighbours.
If you are buying land on or near SH-23 in these villages, ask the seller for a search of the gazette notices, the revenue records and the encumbrance certificate. Land already notified for the highway should not be purchased as if it were free of acquisition.