The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu State authorities and Southern Railway to complete the long-pending construction of a Limited Use Subway (LUS) at Vaniyambadi in a time-bound manner, while disposing of an appeal filed by a local resident. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta took on record the assurances provided by the authorities regarding tender finalization and land acquisition, directing that compliance affidavits be filed within eight months.
Background of the Case
The matter pertains to Level Crossing No. 81 situated between Vaniyambadi and Kethandapatti Railway Stations in Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu. The railway line divides the eastern and western portions of Vaniyambadi Town, and the level crossing is used by a significant number of local residents and commuters.
In November 2007, the Government of Tamil Nadu granted administrative sanction for the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 crores on a cost-sharing basis with Southern Railway. However, subsequent evaluations revealed that an ROB would require extensive land acquisition in a heavily built-up area and entail high costs. Consequently, an alternative proposal for a Road Under Bridge (RUB) was considered.
In 2018, the appellant, Madurai Farooq Ahmed, approached the Madras High Court in W.P. No. 26319 of 2018 seeking commencement of work or reopening of the level crossing. The level crossing was temporarily reopened, and the writ petition was disposed of on July 18, 2023. Meanwhile, the State Government approved changing the project nomenclature to RUB in December 2019 and initiated land acquisition under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001.
Following a joint inspection by the State Highways Department and Southern Railway, the proposal was modified again to a Limited Use Subway (LUS), reducing the land acquisition requirement to approximately 5,000 square metres. The State Government officially approved the change to LUS in May 2025.
The appellant then filed W.P. No. 21364 of 2025 before the Madras High Court seeking time-bound completion. On July 25, 2025, the High Court disposed of the petition without giving specific timeframes, noting that granting the relief would require continuous monitoring of the project. Aggrieved by this disposal, the appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.
Submissions and Status Updates
During the proceedings before the Supreme Court, the respondents submitted updated status reports and brief notes regarding execution timelines:
- Southern Railway (Respondent No. 2): Stated via affidavit that a tender had been floated for the railway portion of the LUS, receiving seven bids. It submitted that upon award of the contract and handover of the required land by the State Government for casting boxes, the railway portion of the work would be completed within six months.
- State Authorities: Clarified that land acquisition proceedings pursuant to G.O. (Ms.) No. 84 dated May 15, 2025, were underway, and instructions had been communicated to the land acquisition authority on February 26, 2026. Steps for preparing designs, estimates, and drawings for the Highways portion were also underway.
Court’s Analysis and Observations
The Supreme Court noted that the project, which had remained under consideration for nearly 20 years, had finally progressed materially toward execution. The Court observed that because definite commitments had been placed on record, continuous monitoring of the project was unnecessary.
The bench placed on record its appreciation for the appellant’s persistent efforts as a public-spirited citizen, observing:
“These days, Writ Courts are frequently called upon to deal with proceedings styled as public interest litigations which, on closer scrutiny, do not advance any genuine public cause. The present matter stands on a different footing. The appellant has demonstrated how a vigilant and bona fide citizen can, through sustained and responsible engagement with public authorities and constitutional courts, draw attention to an issue affecting the community at large. Such constructive civic participation deserves acknowledgment.”
The Court further held that “no useful purpose would be served by keeping the present appeal pending merely for the purpose of continuously monitoring the execution of the project.”
Directions and Decision
Granting leave, the Supreme Court disposed of the appeal with the following directions:
- State Authorities: Must complete pending land acquisition proceedings and necessary approvals with utmost expedition, ensuring that land is handed over to Southern Railway without delay. Simultaneously, they must progress with the designs, estimates, and administrative approvals for the Highways portion.
- Southern Railway: Must finalise the tender process within the indicated timeline and complete its portion of the work within six months from the date of contract award and availability of land.
- Compliance Affidavits: Both the State authorities and Southern Railway are required to file compliance affidavits before the Supreme Court upon completion of their respective domains, and in any event, within eight months from the date of the judgment.
Case Title: Madurai Farooq Ahmed v. The Principal Secretary to Government & Ors.
Case No.: Civil Appeal No. [Arising out of SLP (C) No. 31444 of 2025]
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Date: August 21, 2026
