Trichy: Bringing relief to commuters, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started issuing notices to encroachers between Thindukkarai and Pettaivaithalai on Trichy-Karur national highway (NH) in Trichy district.The notices were sent to properties that were acquired by the NHAI to widen the road, but work was not initiated immediately. Hence, people continued to occupy the portion of the land on both sides of the highway even after NHAI officially acquired it.The notices urged the property owners to vacate the area within seven days of receiving the notice.The development is based on an official survey conducted by NHAI and revenue department officials last month to demarcate the boundaries of land acquired by NHAI for widening the Trichy-Karur national highway (NH).The 11km stretch of the highway in Trichy district is a narrow and accident-prone portion connecting western and central districts of the state. The land acquisition was initiated in 2015, but was not fully utilized by NHAI.Confirming the development, NHAI Trichy project implementation unit said that authorities are working on a proposal to make complete use of the acquired land to prevent accidents on the stretch and improve the services for commuters and locals.“It is a welcome move from NHAI Trichy, but we expect immediate action. Facilities such as bus bays, widening the narrow stretch, centre medians, and straightening of the curves on the highway must be taken up quickly,” K Thangaraj, a retired Indian Air Force officer, said.