Land Acquisition Notices Issued for Madurai-Sivaganga Road Expansion.

The expansion of the Madurai-Sivaganga Road into a four-lane highway, part of the ₹150 crore Melamadai Grade Separator project, has encountered delays due to land acquisition issues. To speed up progress, the state highways department has issued land acquisition notices to affected landowners along the route, with a one-month deadline to finalize compensation agreements.

The project involves widening a 2-kilometre stretch from Anna Bus Stand to Aavin Junction, including the area between the Collector’s Office Junction and 5th Street in Gomathipuram. This expansion aims to alleviate traffic congestion in one of Madurai's busiest areas, requiring approximately 3,941 square metres of private land.

"The entire 2-km stretch will be expanded into a four-lane road, and notices have been sent to 60 landowners from the Collector's Office to the Melamadai Signal," said a senior highways official.

The current road width varies between 7 and 11 metres and will be standardized to 19 metres, with 15 metres dedicated to the road, a median, and stormwater drains. The upgrade is expected to ease traffic for commuters traveling to key destinations like the Collector's Office, Government Rajaji Hospital, Tamukkam Grounds, and the Gandhi Museum.

Additionally, the Melamadai Grade Separator will be constructed as a four-lane structure with 7.5-metre-wide service roads, with piling work already underway. Landowners who received notices have been invited to a consultation meeting next month to address concerns before finalizing compensation. State highways officials expect the land acquisition and widening process to be completed within three months, after which the expansion work will begin.

Key project details include the widening of junctions at the Collectorate, Aavin, and Melamadai, and expanding the road width from an average of 7-11 metres to 19 metres. The total cost of the project is estimated at ₹150 crore.

ET