Metro rail’s double standards

Metro rail’s double standards

BMRC Ltd is paying Rs 3,582 per square feet as compensation for a plot on West of Chord Road, while the one right next to it is getting Rs 4,851 per square feet. Why this discrepancy?

Praveen Kumar
Posted On Sunday, December 07, 2008 at 09:38:40 AM

Two neighbouring plots on West of Chord Road are being acquired by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRC), but the compensation rate differs drastically. The owner of the corner plot, khata number 19(11), which has a building on it, is being paid a compensation of Rs 3,582 per square feet while the adjacent plot, khata number 20(10), is being compensated at the rate of Rs 4851, a difference of Rs 1,269 per square feet.

“Why am I paid less for the same piece of land which is being acquired by the BMRC Ltd than my neighbour for the west of Chord Road alignment before the Mahalakshmi Layout station,’’ S Harish, a city based businessman, asks. Harish’s property is located next to Iskcon temple. It is a corner site and being acquired by the BMRCL based on the recommendation of the Thomas Committee set up to fix the land price.

“My repeated requests to the BMRCL authorities to reconsider the compensation package allotted to us or at least pay me the same package that has been allotted to my neighbour have fallen on deaf ears,” he added. “I have no option left other than going to the court. I even requested the BMRCL authorities to educate me on what parameters different price rates have been fixed but this has not yielded any results. I have no issue with my neighbour, but my only concern is that my rights should be respected. My neighbour is losing only a vacant piece of land but in my case I will lose the entire complex.”

S Harish
WHY THIS DISCREPANCY?
Harish alleges that his neighbour Suresh managed to influence an official of the BMRCL and managed to get a higher price. But Suresh, a legal advisor by profession, denied this and told Bangalore Mirror that he has not influenced any BMRCL authority in this regard and that the compensation package was wholly decided by the BMRCL.

Gangadharaiah, Special Deputy Commissioner, land acquisition, accepted that there is a serious discrepancy in the compensation package of the two neighbours, but all he would offer by way of solution was that, “The affected land owner can approach the court.”

He explained that neither he nor the BMRCL’s managing director has any say in fixing the rates, and the Thomas
Committee was set up to study the market value of the plots and the rates have been fixed based on its recommendations. The special DC added that he can only act in case there is any difference in fixation of land price than the one recommended by the Thomas Committee.

D K Nagendra, Public Relations Officer, BMRCL, clarified that the Thomas Committe no longer exists.

Meanwhile, a few other people who have properties on the same road have raised similar objections in a formal complaint to the Managing Director of BMRCL. Their demand-a uniform package. No discrepancies please, they have said in the letter.