Tamil Nadu clears land acquisition for delayed Thanjavur-Pattukottai railway line
The Tamil Nadu government has granted administrative sanction for the acquisition of land for the proposed Thanjavur–Pattukottai new broad gauge railway line. The move is expected to revive a project that has been pending for over a decade since it was first announced in the 2013-14 Railway Budget.
According to a government order issued late last month, the administration will acquire 119 hectares of patta land and alienate 31.63 hectares of government poramboke land across 24 villages in Orathanadu, Thiruvonam and Pattukottai taluks in Thanjavur district. The lands are to be acquired under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997.
The government order specifies the exact nature of the land to be acquired: 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 decision was taken after reviewing the proposal submitted by the Thanjavur District Collector and the recommendation of the Commissioner of Land Administration.
The District Revenue Officer, Thanjavur, has been appointed as the Land Acquisition Officer to oversee the process. The government has also sanctioned the creation of 13 posts of special staff, including a Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), to expedite the acquisition work. The order has been communicated to the Commissioner of Land Administration, the District Collector of Thanjavur, and the Chief Engineer (Construction), Southern Railway.
The 52-km line connecting Thanjavur and Pattukottai was originally sanctioned in the 2013-14 Railway Budget during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. At that time, the estimated cost was ₹290 crore. However, the project did not progress due to difficulties in acquiring land, a common issue for infrastructure projects in the region.
Residents and rail users in the delta region have repeatedly urged authorities to implement the project, citing its potential to improve connectivity for both passengers and freight. The recent administrative sanction is seen as a significant step, but stakeholders have also called on the railway administration to allocate adequate funds and begin construction without further delay.
The state government's action provides a clear framework for land procurement, which was the primary obstacle. With the administrative formalities addressed, the focus now shifts to the Southern Railway to ensure timely execution of the project, which is expected to boost economic activity and ease travel in the agriculturally rich delta region.
