What land is being acquired and where
The land is being taken to widen SH-40, the state highway running from Tiruchendur to Ambasamudram through Palayamkottai. Because this is a state road, the acquisition is under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, and not under the National Highways Act.
In all, 384 survey numbers in 12 villages are covered. Eight villages are in Thoothukkudi district, in Tiruchendur, Eral and Srivaikundam taluks. Four are in Tirunelveli district, in Palayamkottai and Ambasamudram taluks.
Most of the affected survey numbers lie at the Thoothukkudi end of the road. Kandasamypuram, Kongarayakurichi and Tholappanpannai together account for 257 of the 384 survey numbers.
A survey number appearing in a notice does not always mean the whole field is taken. Often only a strip next to the existing road is acquired, and the notice schedule gives the extent for each survey or subdivision number.
The notices and their stage
Thirteen notifications were published in the State Gazette. The first is dated 31 March 2020 and the latest is dated 9 November 2022. Twelve notices each cover one village, and the notice of 4 May 2022 covers two villages.
None of the 13 notices has been withdrawn, and none is recorded as having been corrected later. On the facts available, every listed survey number remains under acquisition.
Under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, acquisition for a highway is made by a notice under section 15(1) published in the Gazette. Once that notice is published, the Act provides that the listed land vests in the Government, free from encumbrances. In plain terms, the notice is not merely a proposal; it is the legal step by which the Government takes the land.
The facts here do not show whether compensation has been paid, whether possession has been taken, or whether work is complete in any village. For that, the record of the land acquisition office handling the project is the source to rely on.
Villages in the SH-40 widening acquisition
Thoothukkudi district, Tiruchendur taluk: Kandasamypuram (99 survey numbers) and Veeramanikkam (18).
Thoothukkudi district, Srivaikundam taluk: Kongarayakurichi (82), Tholappanpannai (76) and Alwarkarkulam (5).
Thoothukkudi district, Eral taluk: Puraiyur (28) and Thirukkalur (15).
Tirunelveli district, Ambasamudram taluk: Vellankuli (32) and Therkku Kallidaikuruchi-1 (16).
Tirunelveli district, Palayamkottai taluk: V.M. Chatram (Additional) (7), Krishnapuram (4) and V.M.Chatram (Additional-2) (2).
This is the full list. No other villages are covered by these notices.
What to do if your land is listed
Get a copy of the Gazette notice for your village and check the schedule. Match your survey number and subdivision number, and note the extent shown against it. Compare this with your patta, the FMB sketch and the extent you actually hold.
If only part of your field is listed, find out exactly which strip is affected. The extent left with you is what you will continue to own and use.
Approach the land acquisition office for the project, usually the Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition) attached to the Highways Department, or the Taluk office for your village. Ask about the award, the compensation fixed for your survey number, and the documents needed to claim it.
Keep your title documents, patta, encumbrance certificate and legal heir papers, if any, ready. If you believe the compensation fixed is too low, take advice promptly on the remedy available under the Act, as such remedies are subject to time limits.
Buyers should check every survey number of a property against these notices before paying an advance. Land that has vested in the Government cannot be validly sold by the earlier owner, and a sale deed alone will not change that.