Farmers demand fair compensation for Madurai-Rameswaram NH expansion project

Farmers of Achuthanvayal and nearby areas are demanding proper compensation for farmlands reportedly being taken for the construction of a four-lane road by the National Highways from Madurai to Rameswaram.

A. Bose, coordinator of the Ramanathapuram Periya Kanmai Seventh Madai Neer Pasana Sangam, said that although a different set of agricultural lands were acquired by the government for the construction of a National Highway (NH) about 10 years ago, the project was never completed.

“To further expand the road starting from Pamban, we received a notification from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) about five years ago stating that they were to acquire the land for the expansion of the highways,” he recalled.

However, he noted that due to opposition from farmers and delays in allocating funds for the project, the land acquisition process did not continue at that time.

“In this situation, in November 2025, several of our villagers received notifications citing various Acts stating that our lands are to be acquired for the extension of the NH leading to Rameswaram,” Mr. Bose noted.

S. Karikalan, another farmer who received a similar notification, said the expansion of NH 49—intended to facilitate lakhs of tourists visiting Rameswaram every month—has irked farmers due to the low fixation of compensation for the land.

“The lands currently slated for acquisition are largely fed by the Ramanathapuram Periya Kanmai. These lands are all fertile and revenue-yielding,” he added.

He claimed that as most farmers stand to lose close to one acre of land if the project takes off, land valued at lakhs per cent would essentially be taken for free.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment regarding a land acquisition case in Karnataka, Mr. Bose said the apex court had ruled that government departments acquiring land for developmental projects must mandatorily inform owners of the land value and the exact amount they are to receive.

“But the notification we received provides no information regarding these court-mandated details. Due to this, we are in a situation where every farmer stands to lose lakhs of rupees if we are not properly compensated,” he noted.

A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official said, they have issued notice and advertisements on news papers regarding receiving compensation for their lands.

“For those who have not been informed about the process can visit the tahsildar offices at Pamban and Ramanathapuram,” the official added.

While close to 40% of the disbursement works have been completed further process was under way, the official stated.