RailEnquiry

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has quashed the land acquisition proceedings for a multi-crore railway project in the Tindivanam-Nagari section, saying it has reasons believe that a last-minute change in route was done to protect the interests of an amusement park.Justice D Hariparanthaman, allowing a petition jointly filed by landowners of Veppur village in Vellore district, said: "I have perused the map of the railway track. It takes a bend. They (authorities) are not able to satisfactorily explain as to why there is a bend at the village. Hence, the submissions that the track makes a bend to accommodate the theme park cannot be simply brushed aside."The work to build the broad gauge line passing through Veppur began in July 2008 when the Railway Board gave the go-ahead. The land survey, however, was been completed in 2007. According to the villagers, the original plan was changed and the track given a curve to save the park - Theme Thunder Amusement Park. They also alleged that the changed alignment would adversely affect heritage structures such as the Ponniamman and Vinayagar temples, besides hospital, school and residential buildings.Following a representation from the villagers, the district collector conducted a survey and submitted a report in October 2010 confirming the deviation and its adverse impact on the village.

In spite of this, the railway authorities invoked the emergency clause under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, to avoid public inquiry and debate before acquiring the land. The landowners moved the HC challenging the deviation in plan and invocation of the urgency clause.