JOIN USBDA seeks Rs 8,100 rore to acquire land for PRR
The Bangalore Development Authority has written to the State and the Union government seeking funds for acquiring lands to construct peripheral ring road.
The PRR will connect Tumakuru Road with Hosur Road running through Ballari Road and Old Madras Road. The project is estimated to cost Rs 3,800 crore apart from the land acquisition cost of Rs 8,100 crore. The compensation for land acquisition has ballooned as the High Court has ruled land losers should be paid compensation according to the new Land Acquisition Act and revised guidance value.
The BDA technical committee has finalised the project and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has completed its scrutiny.
“Now we are waiting for funds without which we cannot proceed with land acquisition for commencing the work. We have written to the State and Union government for funds and awaiting response. Three to four meetings have been held with government representatives and things look positive. We are told that the issue of funds is under discussion,” BDA Engineering Member P N Nayak told Deccan Herald.
JICA has told the BDA that it is ready to fund the project as long as the land acquisition is taken care of.
“JICA has told us clearly that they are ready to release funds for the project implementation cost, but won’t do so for land acquisition. This cost has to be met by us,” Nayak said.
The State government is grappling with ways to mobilise the funds for land acquisition. “We understand the government has asked the Union government to pitch in 50 per cent, while it would take care of the rest 50 per cent. The State government will give 40 per cent of the developed land back to owners, Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and part cash as compensation to the land losers.
The Union government, BDA officials say, may also agree to bear a part of the project cost as it falls in the Bengaluru- Chennai industrial corridor.
The State government will be acquiring 1,890 acres for the PRR. Both the preliminary and final notifications for acquisition have been issued and objections have been called for. Cases filed against BDA for acquisition have been sorted out in the court and BDA doesn’t have too many legal hurdles, the BDA official stated.
The BDA is also working on integrating this road with the Nice expressway, which connects Tumakuru Road with Hosur Road through Mysuru Road and Kanakapura Road.