BANGALORE: The State Government said on Saturday that it will extend all cooperation and assistance to the Centre for expediting work on national highways being undertaken under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).

Land acquisition problem, which is a major hindrance in the implementation of national highway projects in the State, has "almost" been solved, Minister for Cooperation R.V. Deshpande told presspersons here after a high-level review meeting with a Central team headed by K.H. Muniyappa, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping.

Compensation

Mr. Deshpande said deputy commissioners have been authorised to hasten the process of settling arbitration cases relating to land acquisition. "Whatever compensation has to be paid for acquiring land will be paid. The Law Department will issue necessary orders in this regard," he added.

According to Mr. Muniyappa, problems relating to land acquisition, shifting of utilities and non-availability of quality stones are coming in the way of developing national highway projects in the State. "This is the responsibility of the State Government," he said.

Mr. Deshpande said deputy commissioners have also been directed to take the opinion of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) before allowing any change in the land use pattern along national highways for developing layouts, apartments and commercial complexes. They have also been instructed to hold periodic meetings with the Public Works Department, zilla panchayats, superintendents of police and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd to resolve problems related to shifting of utilities.

The State Government is in the process of identifying new quarries for procuring quality stones for road construction, Mr. Deshpande said.

With work on the international airport progressing ahead of schedule, the Government has requested the NHAI to expedite work on the Devanahalli road project. Following a request from the Government, the NHAI has agreed to undertake a Rs. 40-crore project linking the new airport.

Proposal

The Home Department is examining a proposal for police patrolling along national highways to prevent encroachment and remove obstacles. "All these measures have been taken to ensure that more and more national highway projects are implemented by the Centre for which the State will extend all cooperation," Mr. Deshpande said.

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