HYDERABAD: The loose ends that persisted till recently in the execution of the Outer Ring Road Phase I have been finally tied up and work commenced in the two stretches near Chilkur Reserve Forest and Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA).

The ORR authorities, keen to provide four-lane connectivity to the international airport by December-end, are now relieved that the target would be met with the work commencing on the two stretches near Chilkur forest area and APPA.

Though the work on 24.38-km ORR Phase I Gachibowli to Shamshabad commenced in July last year and work has been going on full swing, the two small stretches of about 2.5-km had to be left alone as the lands under the purview of forest department and APPA had not been handed over for the ORR project.

Though both the departments had agreed in principle to handover the lands falling under the ORR alignment, some glitches persisted regarding payment of compensation.

Agreement

However, after the intervention of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, an agreement was reached with the departments concerned.

As per the agreement, boundary wall would be constructed on either side of the ORR passing through Chilkur reserve forest area besides providing noise barriers for protecting the tranquillity inside the forest as per environment guidelines.

In lieu of 17 acres of forest land for the ORR, the forest department would get 45 acres in Medak and Rs.2 crores for afforestation expenses. APPA, which had sought time to shift utilities too agreed to handover the land.

Compensation package

With the HUDA extending special compensation package even to the first phase land losers whose lands had already been acquired, there are no further issues.

Meanwhile, the response for the 61.8-km ORR Phase II A from Shamshabad to Pedda Amberpet and Narsingi to Patancheru under annuity model has been quite good with already 20 companies coming forward.

The last date for submission of bids is April 13 and the work will commence in July, according to ORR Project Director Piyush Kumar.

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