Expressway work limping

Expressway work limping
Deccan Herald


The Bangalore North-South Corridor project on National Highway 7, set to finish two years ago, is limping.

The Rs 150-crore project that covers a 25-km stretch between Hebbal and Devanahalli is the first and only six laning project in Bangalore. The project was initiated in the year 2001, with 2003 as the projected deadline. Now, official sources reveal the project will be completed only in December 2006. With its completion, those heading towards the Bangalore International Airport in Devanahalli may travel at a dizzying speed of 100 km an hour. Interestingly, the project does not cater only to the needs of the international airport. It was serendipitous that the airport plans got finalised around the same time, which facilitated a readymade road being carved in its direction.

With 50 per cent of the project completed, the main carryway along the entire stretch, which also includes road over-bridges and under-bridges, is expected to be ready by March 2006. At present, 11 kilometres of main carryway from Devanahalli side is complete and the remaining 13 kms is making progress. The project is being undertaken by a Mumbai-based company called Afcons.

The hiccups

The main hitch has been land acquisition as the project stretch houses around 23 villages and several private properties.

The land acquisition started in 2002 and according to official sources, compensation has been given to 98 per cent of land owners till now. The remaining two per cent comprise cases pending in court due to land disputes and want of clarification of land details. Cases of absentee owners have aggravated the problem.

With the government valuation of land being vastly different from the market value, farmers and land owners rarely accept the government quotation of price.

However, farmers here do not have much bargaining power as it is a Central government project. The entire 25-km stretch will not run 30-metre wide in six lanes because of the presence of Kodandaramaswamy temple on the main road of Byatarayanapura. With public consent, it has been resolved to spare the temple and, instead, more land has been acquired on the right hand side for the project. As a result, near Byatarayanapura, one side will remain the same while the other will shrink a bit. The main carryway on one side will be 20 mts in width and the service road of 3 mts will be made into a pedestrian road and not a service road.

LAND FOR PEANUTS!

The Registration Department has fixed rates that vary from Rs 3.5 lakh an acre to Rs 20 lakh. For instance, a property worth Rs 1 crore in Yelahanka went for a meagre price of Rs 20 lakh, about two years ago. Farmers in Hireaminikere near Devanahalli received a compensation of a few thousands, as their lands were valued at the base price of Rs 3.5 lakh. Land acquisition of two private companies situated near Devanahalli is still pending, as the owners are demanding a better price.