Procedure to be followed when Highways Authority desires permanently to close any highway.

(1) Where, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 42, the Highways authority desires to close down any highway or part thereof permanently, it shall give notice of its intention so to do in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. The notice shall also be published in at least two newspapers one of which shall be in Tamil. (2) The notice shall indicate the alternative route, if any, which is proposed to be provided or which may already be in existence, and shall also invite objections, if any, to the proposal to be submitted to the State Highways Authority under sub-section (3), within such time as may be specified in the notice. (3) The Highways authority shall finalise its proposal to close down such highway or part of it, after considering the objections, if any, received within the specified time, and shall submit a proposal to the State Highways Authority for approval, together with such objections as may have been received against such proposal. (4) The State Highways Authority may, either approve such proposal, with or without modification or reject it. (5) When the State Highways Authority has approved such proposal, it shall publish an order to that effect in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. (6) When such order has been published, the Highways authority shall arrange for further publicity to be given to the order in atleast two newspapers, one of which shall be in Tamil and the highway or part thereof shall, then, be closed. (7) Whenever any highway or any part thereof has been so closed. reasonable compensation shall be paid to every person who was entitled, otherwise than as a mere member of the public, to sue such highway or part thereof as a means of access to or from his property and has suffered damage because of such closure.