Expressway fails to take off

Expressway fails to take off
Deccan Herald

The much-anticipated bhoomi pooja for the Bangalore-Mysore expressway project from the Mysore end failed to take off on Friday as the district administration with help of police effectively prevented officials of the project promoters, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), from entering the land earmarked for the launch.

Even though NICE Managing Director Ashok Kheny and his engineers had reached Mysore around 9 am, they were not allowed anywhere near the launch site at Rajivnagar on the outskirts of the city.

The district administration, in anticipation of Mr Kheny organising a huge crowd for the launch ceremony, had clamped down prohibitory orders at the site and posted a strong posse of police personnel.

In a last-ditch effort, Mr Kheny and his team even met Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar, who is also Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) chairman, and requested the handing over of the land. But his efforts were in vain, as Mr Selva Kumar expressed helplessness and said that he had nothing to do with NICE and that they had to petition the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

Mr Kheny told reporters, “We have no other choice but to postpone the launch of the project in Mysore. We hope KIADB will deposit the money to MUDA soon and the work can be launched next week.” For NICE to start the project from Mysore end, MUDA would have to hand over nearly 14.5 acres of its land near Rajivnagar III Stage. While Mr Kheny claims that he has deposited Rs 110 crore with the KIADB for land acquisition, MUDA is maintaining that the money has not reached it.

Mr Kheny said, “I wonder why land has not been handed over despite depositing the money. The officials don’t want any development to happen and they are acting as the custodians of poverty.” He said he had handed over the approved plan of the project from the Mysore end to the KIADB and yet they were not cooperating with him. “I have got all approvals two years ago and submitted them all. Again they (officials) want the same document,” he said. Mr Kheny said he had tentatively rescheduled the bhoomi pooja for July 11. He would shortly meet Mr Kumaraswamy soon.

KIADB sources said NICE has not deposited any money for acquisition of land in Mysore, and not submitted any approved plan. “The KIADB has deposited Rs 100 crore for acquisition of land in the Bangalore end. The money was deposited for acquisition of land coming under Section A, towards the first phase of the BMIC, comprising 41 km peripheral ring road, 9 km link road and 12 km expressway,” sources said.

‘DOCUMENTS NOT FURNISHED’

Where are the maps, asks Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, DHNS: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday alleged that NICE has not submitted the alignment maps of the BMIC project to the government and hence, agencies concerned could not hand over land to the company in Mysore. Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said, “How can the government hand over land to NICE? Kheni has been saying that he will construct road and townships. But where are the alignment maps? Nothing has been submitted to us. He has been misguiding officials from the beginning. He has not given the alignment maps for the entire BMIC project.” Asked whether the judicial probe he had ordered into the BMIC project controversy cover only the dispute regarding the “excess land,” Mr Kumaraswamy said the probe would cover all aspects.