Chennai Metro rail expansion faces public ire

CHENNAI: Software engineer N. Sathishkumar, (33), working in an Europe-based MNC in Bengaluru, grew up in North Chennai. After completing his studies, he served in USA for four years from 2006. With the savings and with a bank loan, he purchased a plot in a place where he grew up on Ramanuja Iyer street, Old Washermanpet and constructed a house in 2011. He built the house as his parents, who were oil merchants, refused to leave the area. Little did they realise that a year earlier, the place had been earmarked for metro rail project.  Sathishkumar said “I have already spent all my savings on the house and I would be paying EMI for next 20 years”.

Similarly, a vendor, R. Duraipandi, (50) of Tirunelveli, constructed a house in Ramanathan Iyer street, by spending nearly Rs 60 lakh and the house warming ceremony was performed six months ago. Last month, both the families received a notice from Land Acquisition Department, Chennai Collectorate, stating that their houses would be acquired for CMRL expansion project soon, plunging them in shock.  Several others, affected by the proposed expansion of Metro Rail project connecting Washermenpet to Tiruvottiyur, expressed their deep anguish at a joint meeting conducted by CMRL and Revenue officials on Friday. The officials  obtained the opinion of the project-affected persons during a public hearing.

Chairing the public hearing, general manager, CMRL, Murugesan, said the committee will receive the opinion of the people affected by the Rs 4,000 crore expansion project regarding land acquisition.  The proposed route would pass through areas in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. The committee will conduct a similar public hearing for Tiruvallur district after redressing grievances contained in petitions received till  February 9. Already, sanction had been accorded for the 45 km long Phase-1 CMRL project.    

He said after receiving people’s opinion regarding land acquisition, it would be sent to CMRL authorities. A final decision would be taken by them. When Sumangali, additional personal assistant to collector, told the gathering that  “the project is being implemented jointly by Central and state governments   for people’s benefit. Hence, there is no option left for them and a hefty compensation would be paid to them for acquiring their land.”  

Opposing this, residents threatened to stage a walk out alleging that the meeting was not organised to obtain their opinion. After the intervention of Murugesan, the residents continued to express their grievances. While opposing the project, Ganesh, an advocate of MCM Garden, said the livelihood of people would be affected severely by the project. The alignment should be altered to ensure minimum damage to people in the area.

Balamurugan of Ramanujam Iyer Steet, said the authorities should make efforts to widen the Tiruvottiyur High Road up to Broadway. The CMRL should drop the move to acquire a large portion of land in Sir Theagaraya College, Old Washermenpet. Acquisition would affect poor students in North Chennai. Kalaimathi, (64) a retired government servant of Lotus Apartment, said, “Notice has been given to 17 flat owners in the apartments and we cannot move away from the place. With the compensation amount, we cannot buy even a small portion of land anywhere.”

Residents of Sri Chennapuri Devanga Sangham, Basuvaian Street, Old Washermenpet and NPL Agastya Apartment Owners’ Welfare Association, Tondiarpet, also urged the government to drop the project, as it was not required in the area. Ramanathan said the train service on existing link between Wimco Nagar and Chennai Central and from Washermenpet to Beach must be improved similar to the train services between Beach and Tambaram. J. Saravanan of Mint said besides widening the TH Road, authorities should increase the small bus service in the area. Concluding the public hearing, Murugesan, said “A large number of people have sought a change in the alignment and drop a few proposed metro railway stations including Theagaraya college station. A few among them also opposed the project. The report would be sent to the authorities concerned, including the technical committee soon.