The entire stretch of the Ring Road may be ready for traffic by Dasara with the long-pending works on the project gaining momentum as the hurdles, which had affected the progress, have been almost cleared.
Speaking to Deccan Herald on Thursday, Chairman of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) K R Mohan Kumar said acquisition of land had delayed the works and all the problems have been amicably solved to dedicate the ambitious project, aimed at decongesting the city, to the public soon.
The present estimate of the 42-km road works, launched 12 years ago, is Rs 252 crore and has been taken up in five phases. The final phase of the 9-km stretch could be taken up only after Mohan Kumar assumed office as it was very problematic. The main hurdle was the 8 acres of land of the Taluk Agriculture Produce Cooperative Marketing Society (TAPCMS) at Bandipalya near the Nanjangud Road. The second was one acre five guntas of land of Sri Veerabhadreshwara Industrial Training Centre (SVITC) near Bannur Road. The other two are, three guntas of land at Hosahundi and another three guntas of land of former APMC president Manjegowda on the stretch connecting the Nanjangud Road with Hunsur Road.
Mohan Kumar said the TAPCMS withdrew its case against MUDA, opposing land acquisition, following negotiations. “We settled the issue and paid Rs 1.32 crore to TAPCMS through the court. MUDA now has possession of the land and the works are under progress,” he said.
He said, in the SVITC issue, the promoters of the institution have been given equivalent land in the neighbourhood and they had agreed to vacate their land for the Ring Road. “However, they had demanded a compensation for the buildings and the coconut trees on their land. When MUDA did not fulfil their demand, they moved the court seeking a compensation of Rs 35 lakh. Recently, when the case came up for hearing, we offered to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh and they readily agreed before the court. In a couple of days, we will demolish the buildings and start works on extension of the Ring Road,” he said.
“In the other two cases, of three guntas each, the land losers have been assured residential sites under MUDA limits as per their demand.
“Once the entire stretch is put into place, uninterrupted, steps will be taken to either widen the railway under-bridges or to construct additional underbridges to match the lanes of the Ring Road. There are four railway under-bridges across the Ring Road and we need Rs 59 crore for the works. A proposal has been forwarded to the Centre in consultation with MP Prathap Simha, under the Amruth Plan,” Mohan Kumar said.
New forum floated
In view of bringing coordination among 42 urban development authorities in the State, except Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Chairmen’s Association has been formed recently.
Chairman of Mysuru Urban Development Authority K R Mohan Kumar has been elected as its founding president. Mohan Kumar said the members of the association will discuss issues pertaining to development and exchange ideas in the interest of the people in urban areas.
Published 24 September 2015, 18:27 IST