‘Land being assessed for flyover’

MADURAI

A total of 11,000 square metres of land is being acquired by the State Highways department in and around Goripalayam area as preparatory work has begun for the construction of a long-pending flyover, says a senior official from the Department.

On Tuesday, the official said that land was being assessed and notices were being given to residents under the 15th notification of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Detailed project reports have also been prepared for this project which is expected to cost ₹ 200 crore.

The senior official stated that residents’ remarks (protests) in connection with the project had already been issued. Currently, the Highways department had received about 20-30 petitions against the project from people living in the area.

Speaking about the specifications of the flyover, the official said, “The design of the flyover will be adjusted with time as consultants will play around with changes. The flyover will have an elevated rotary and will be built around the life-size bronze statue of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar. A new bridge parallel to A.V. Bridge will be built for easy movement from the elevated rotary. Vehicles using the roads can access the A.V. Bridge to cross over to Simmakkal and Yanaikkal,” he said.

It has been over six years since the project was first proposed.