The Thanjavur-Pattukottai new broad gauge railway line project, stalled on paper for more than ten years, has advanced after the Tamil Nadu government granted administrative approval for land acquisition on this multi-crore initiative.
Last month the state issued an order to acquire 119 hectares of patta land and transfer 31.63 hectares of government land across Puliyanthopu and 24 other villages in Orathanadu, Thiruvonam and Pattukottai taluks of Thanjavur district.
The order specifies the amounts of wetland, dry land, manavari land and ryot manai required for the 52-kilometre line. Acquisition will proceed under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997.
Approval followed review of proposals from the Thanjavur District Collector and the Commissioner of Land Administration. The breakdown includes 21.92 hectares of wetland, 80.38 hectares of dry land, 16.14 hectares of manavari land and 0.55 hectares of ryot manai.
The District Revenue Officer of Thanjavur was named Land Acquisition Officer, and 13 new posts, including a Special Tahsildar, were created to handle the work. The order was sent to the Commissioner of Land Administration, the district collector and the Chief Engineer, Construction, Southern Railway.
Although sanctioned in the 2013-14 Railway Budget at an estimated cost of 290 crore rupees, the project remained delayed by land acquisition problems. The state decision revives the scheme, which is expected to serve rail passengers in the delta region. Local users have urged the railways to allocate funds promptly and begin work without further postponement.
