What land is being acquired and where
The acquisition is for the Thoothukudi to Vanchi Maniyachi New Road, numbered SH-93. It is a state road, so the land is being taken under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, and the notices appear in the Tamil Nadu state gazette.
The affected land lies in Thoothukkudi district, in two taluks: Ottapidaram and Thoothukudi. In all, 81 survey numbers across 3 villages appear in the notices.
The notices identify land by survey number. If you own, or plan to buy, land in one of the listed villages, check the exact survey number and subdivision against the published notice, not just the village name.
The notices and their stage
Three notices have been published so far. The first, dated 9 January 2023, is an errata, which corrects details in an earlier notice. The other two are notifications dated 18 October 2024 and 28 May 2025. Each of the three notices covers one village.
Under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, a notice under section 15(1) is how the Government declares that particular land is to be acquired for a highway. The notice lists the land by village and survey number and allows interested persons to raise objections within the time stated in it. After objections are considered, the acquisition proceeds towards taking possession and fixing compensation.
None of the three notices has been withdrawn, and none has been marked as corrected later. The latest notice is dated 28 May 2025. These facts do not show whether compensation has been fixed, paid or whether possession has been taken. That has to be confirmed with the land acquisition office.
Villages in the SH-93 land acquisition
Saminaththam, in Ottapidaram taluk, is the most affected village, with 57 survey numbers listed.
Sankaraperi, in Thoothukudi taluk, has 20 survey numbers listed.
Thoothukkudi Paraikkuttam, in Ottapidaram taluk, has 4 survey numbers listed.
These are the only villages that appear in the notices for this project. No survey numbers in these villages have been withdrawn.
What to do if your land is listed
First, get a copy of the gazette notice that covers your village and compare the survey number and subdivision with your patta, chitta and the FMB sketch. A notice may cover only part of a survey number.
If you wish to object, or to claim compensation, write to the officer named in the notice. Keep copies of everything you submit and an acknowledgement of receipt. Bring your title deeds, patta, encumbrance certificate and proof of any structures, trees or wells on the land.
If you are buying land in Saminaththam, Sankaraperi or Thoothukkudi Paraikkuttam, ask the seller for the survey number and check it against the notices before paying any advance. Land under acquisition can carry restrictions on transfer, and the right to compensation follows the person recognised by the acquiring authority, which may not be the buyer.
For the current status and compensation, contact the land acquisition officer for the Highways Department in Thoothukkudi district or the taluk office at Ottapidaram or Thoothukudi.