Saravana Bhavan building hit with JCB as Chennai govt reclaims Rs 300 crore land | WATCH
Chennai: Government officials in Chennai carried out a major land recovery operation on Tuesday morning, seizing property worth about Rs 300 crore in the Alandur area. The move followed a court order that ruled in favour of the government in a long-standing dispute over commercial establishments operating on expired leases.
A team led by the Chengalpattu District Collector reached the site early in the morning with heavy machinery, including a JCB. Officials evicted employees from a Saravana Bhavan outlet operating in the building, removed its signboard, and sealed the premises.
The recovered land lies within the Parangimalai taluk, one of Chennai’s wealthiest zones. The government has been conducting an ongoing campaign to reclaim public lands and buildings whose lease periods expired decades ago, many of which date back to the British era.
Officials said numerous commercial properties in Parangimalai, Pallavaram Cantonment and nearby areas have continued operations without renewing their leases or paying rent. Several cases were filed in court, and verdicts in favour of the government have enabled authorities to recover vast tracts of land.
Since 2022, the revenue department has reclaimed about 15 acres of government land valued at over Rs 15 crore from various establishments. The latest recovery in Alandur marks one of the most significant yet, involving a high-profile commercial property.
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The eviction and sealing operation at the Saravana Bhavan premises caused brief tension in the locality, as employees were removed and the building secured by officials. The recovered land is now under government control pending further administrative procedures.
The land recovery in Alandur follows years of allegations of irregularities in lease renewals involving government lands in the Parangimalai and Alandur areas. These plots, originally leased out during British rule, were meant to revert to government ownership once their lease terms ended.
However, several private operators reportedly continued running businesses, leading to significant losses in state revenue. Following public complaints and legal proceedings, the court ruled that the government was entitled to reclaim the land.
Acting on the court’s directive, Chengalpattu District Collector’s office initiated enforcement early Tuesday. Officials from the revenue department reached the Saravana Bhavan building, cleared staff from the premises, removed the restaurant’s branding, and sealed the site under police supervision.
Authorities confirmed that the reclaimed property’s estimated value exceeds Rs 300 crore. They also said that similar recovery drives would continue across the region to reclaim public property illegally occupied by commercial entities.
The government has been conducting periodic enforcement actions since 2022, recovering several acres of land in Parangimalai, Pallavaram, and surrounding areas.