Dismissing a batch of petitions challenging the link road project between Rajapalayam-Sankarankoil-Tirunelveli Road (state highways) to Thirumangalam- Kollam Road (national highways) in Virudhunagar, Madras high court observed that the authorities could go ahead with the project as any further delay would be adverse to public interest and would result in increase in cost.
The petitioners contended the formation of the link road will not serve any purpose, as there is already an existing link road.
The implementation of the project by acquiring land near three waterbodies will be detrimental to the ecology.
The state submitted that in order to avoid traffic congestion inside the Rajapalayam town, after undertaking a detailed study and pursuant to the preparation of detailed project report by the technical experts for the proposed link road, administrative and financial sanction was issued.
A division bench of justice R Suresh Kumar and justice G Arul Murugan observed that from the plan submitted, it could be seen that the link road is not disturbing any waterbody.
Only after conducting a detailed study and obtaining the opinion of the experts, the government had arrived at a conclusion to go ahead with the proposed link road at an outer area, so that there can be better connectivity without affecting the existing infrastructure, which will be more beneficial to the public. When the project is implemented based on the opinion of the technical experts, this court cannot sit in appeal over the opinion of the experts, the judges observed.
The project which was initiated in 2018 and approved in 2022, has now been stalled in view of the above litigations. The authorities can go ahead and implement the project, the judges observed.