Expressway hits new hurdle

Expressway hits new hurdle
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Even as the BMRDA announced plans to go ahead with its alignment for the 21.2-km expressway, surveyors of the project ran into opposition in Dodda Gubbi, off Outer Ring Road, where the expressway starts.


The running battle between the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) and the owners of properties on its Airport Expressway route took an action-packed twist on Thursday.
Even as the BMRDA announced plans to go ahead with its alignment for the 21.2-km expressway, surveyors of the project ran into opposition in Dodda Gubbi, off Outer Ring Road, where the expressway starts.
Speaking to reporters, BMRDA Chairman Sudhir Krishna said that the notification for the acquisition of 617 acres of land and demolition of 95 buildings would be issued by May-end. Work on the expressway is expected to kick off in September and end latest by March, 2009.
However, residents of Dodda Gubbi, Challakere and Kylasanahalli maintained that the surveyors were entering private properties to mark boundaries based on an allegedly flawed survey, without any valid documents.
Mr Krishna said that nearly 60 per cent of work on fixing boundary stones was complete and the rest would be over soon. The project, according to the BMRDA, has caught the interest of 24 companies.
Representations
Mr Krishna, replying to queries on public opposition to the Rs 482.48-crore project, said that the BMRDA had received 46 representations in this connection. He, however, added that compensation would be paid in accordance with the prevailing market rates.
On Thursday, officials who came in with policemen to lay boundary stones near a rescue shelter in Dodda Gubbi had to leave the spot without marking the boundaries, according to the residents. Home of Hope, that houses around 220 inmates, witnessed an exchange of words between the officials and residents of the area.
Areas near the centre have been marked for an interchange in the proposed expressway. “Around 15 people had come without any notification and started laying boundary stones, but we managed to keep them away,” said T Raja — popularly known as Auto Raja — who runs the centre.
Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) Managing Director Ramesh Jhalki told reporters that there would be no realignment of the expressway near the Challakere and Boyilahalli tanks. “Bridges will be built over the tanks that will be conserved and beautified,” he said.