EPS attacks DMK on Salem–Chennai highway project

 AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has accused the DMK government of hypocrisy over the Salem–Chennai 8-lane expressway project, claiming that the ruling party is now demanding the very project it once opposed. As part of his “Let’s Save the People, Let’s Save Tamil Nadu” campaign, EPS met with industrialists in Hosur, Krishnagiri district, today. Speaking at the event, he recalled the history of the 8-lane expressway proposal. “The ₹10,000 crore project was to become the second green corridor in India. We had offered high compensation to farmers for land acquisition — in some areas, ₹20 lakh worth of land was compensated up to ₹1 crore. For coconut trees, we paid up to ₹30,000 each. Nearly 94% of farmers supported the project,” EPS said. However, he noted that the project could not be implemented due to protests from various groups, including the DMK, which strongly opposed land acquisition at the time. “The project was abandoned because of these protests. But now, the DMK government is demanding the same project,” EPS remarked, criticizing the shift in stance. The Salem–Chennai 8-lane expressway has been a controversial infrastructure proposal in Tamil Nadu, facing both strong support and fierce opposition over environmental and land acquisition concerns. @@@@