9 committees may oversee relief package for PRR project’s land losers

Bengaluru: Nine committees are likely to be formed to fix the compensation structure in 77 villages and urban areas, where the 74-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, has been proposed. Also known as the Business Corridor Project, it will form a semi-circle in the city’s outskirts.

The committee, headed by a special land acquisition officer, is expected to first take the opinion of the land losers and then fix the compensation by taking into account the guidance value of the village.

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has proposed two-level price fixing committees for acquiring about 2,560 acres of land, BDA Commissioner N Jayaram told DH, adding that the proposal was awaiting the state government’s approval.

While the nine committees will meet the land losers, the second panel is expected to sign the dispersal of the compensation amount. Each committee will be responsible for holding meetings in eight different villages.

As per the initial discussion, the BDA will consider the village guidance value as on June 2024 along with 100 per cent solatium, interest of 12 per cent, and additional value as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act of 2013. For many land losers, this may not be attractive as the market value in the city’s outskirts has shot up manyfold, with Bengaluru attracting huge investments in recent times.

Of the 2,560 acres, the BDA had issued final notification for about 1,810 acres in 2007. In 2022, the authority issued preliminary notification for another 608 acres. Overall, the BDA estimates the land acquisition cost would come at Rs 20,511 crore.

In September, the government had directed the BDA to issue consent-based awards as the guidance value of the land varies among villages.

Team formed

Ever since the government approved the project in September, the BDA has formed a 68-member team to implement the project. Each special land acquisition officer, who is a KAS officer, will be assisted by a tahasildar, upa tahasildar, revenue inspector, and surveyor.

The BDA has also hired eight assistant engineers for its engineering wing and 18 data entry operators.

“While one wing has started the groundwork for acquiring the land, the other wing will finalise the road designs, which is key to floating the tenders for civil work. While HUDCO has sanctioned a loan with an upper limit of Rs 27,000 crore, we may also seek the government’s support to reduce the dependence on raising the entire loan,” a BDA official said.