Land acquisition delays Tambaram Eastern Bypass project

The Tambaram Eastern Bypass project is facing delays due to challenges in acquiring land and a lack of bidders for government tenders over the past eight months. The project, which spans 8.8 kilometers and links the Rajkilpakkam junction on MBI Road with Perungalathur, was revived in July 2020 after a decade-long delay. While some portions have been completed, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Project has revealed that work proposed for Puthur and Rajakilpakkam remains at the tender stage due to issues with land acquisition. Dayanand Krishnan, a resident-activist who filed an RTI petition, reported that contractors have been unwilling to take on the project for more than eight months. Krishnan has called for the Chengalpet collector to hold a meeting with relevant government departments to resolve land acquisition issues and compensate affected parties, so that work on the bypass can resume. Highway officials have reported that issues regarding the acquisition of forest land at Perungalathur have recently been resolved, and compensation to Puthur residents and shop owners is in progress. Despite the delays, officials remain optimistic that the project will be completed by mid-2024. The bypass project was first announced in 2011 as a means of reducing traffic congestion on the Grand Southern Trunk Road, particularly at Tambaram. Upon completion, it is expected to alleviate traffic for those bound for Madipakkam, Velachery, Thiruvanmiyur, and Adyar, allowing them to bypass the GST Road.