The Madras High Court quashed the Chengalpattu Collector’s notification to acquire land for a skywalk connecting the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT), ruling that required procedures were not followed.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh ruled on petitions by DMK MP S Jagathrakashakan, his family members J Sreenisha and JJ Sundeep Anand, proprietors of Premier Leather Corporation. They challenged the notification and acquisition declaration, including the acquisition of five cents of their land.

The court found the notice under Section 11(1) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2023, had been published in the Chengalpattu District Gazette but not the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. It held the proceedings invalid for non-compliance with Sections 11(1) and 15, making subsequent actions untenable. Authorities may initiate fresh acquisition proceedings by following the prescribed procedures.

The state has completed the final 250-metre arm of the Perungalathur Road Over Bridge (ROB), towards Tambaram’s Eastern Bypass on Gandhi Road, and will open it to traffic on Friday, September 25. The 15-metre-wide, bidirectional four-lane arm is the ROB’s sixth and final arm; its completion was delayed nearly two years by a 33/11 kV substation on the alignment. State Highways paid Tangedco ₹32 crore four months ago to shift the substation and acquired the land. Motorists from Tambaram, Mappedu, Thiruvanchery and nearby areas can use the ROB towards Vandalur and Chengalpattu, bypassing GST Road; it also links to eastern Tambaram.

On Gandhi Road, nearly 1 km from the ROB, a six-lane stretch narrows to two lanes for about 750 metres through reserve forest. A proposal to provide alternative land for widening has been approved by the Chengalpattu collector. Widening to six lanes would connect motorists directly to Mappedu and Selaiyur.

The ROB replaced Level Crossing Gate 32 between Tambaram and Vandalur railway stations near Perungalathur. Construction began in 2019 at a cost of ₹235 crore. Its first two arms opened in September 2022, an arm towards New Perungalathur on SR Road in June 2023, and two arms connecting Tambaram towards Vandalur in August 2024. Activist Dayanand Krishnan said the ROB improves access to Chitlapakkam and Rajakilpakkam, but Camp Road junction remains congested at peak hours.

NHAI plans a 23km, six-lane double-decker elevated corridor from Mahindra City to Kilambakkam bus terminus, with a toll plaza. Peak travel time is expected to fall from about 90 minutes to 15–20 minutes. NHAI will build it first and construct central pillars, piers and pier caps for a possible double-decker metro; the state proposal has gone to the Centre, and Metro would later install girders, tracks and electrification.

A planned 15km, six-lane greenfield expressway from Pakkam village to Paranur will connect to the Kancheepuram–Chengalpet highway junction, pass through Uthiramerur and cross the Palar river. The other expressway is expected to cut Tindivanam–Chengalpet travel from 1.5 hours to about 30 minutes, and Tindivanam–Kilambakkam travel to about an hour.

NHAI has proposed widening the 68km Chengalpet–Tindivanam stretch into a 10-lane corridor, with six main lanes and two service lanes. It awaits environmental clearance because of hillock areas after Paranur. The widening is intended to serve Chennai-bound traffic for 30 years; the greenfield road could be extended towards Tindivanam and beyond.

Mahindra Lifespaces Developers announced Phase IV launch of Mahindra Lakewoods in Chennai, part of the integrated township Mahindra World City on the GST Road corridor.

Mahindra Lakewoods details:

• Spread across 9.33 acres
• Comprises nine towers offering 2- and 3-BHK residences
• Phase IV: Towers F and G launched, each with 83 apartments

Mahindra World City:

• Spread across 1,550 acres
• Includes residential, commercial, and industrial developments