The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Residents hope expressway project to BIA will be shelved

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Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Residents hope expressway project to BIA will be shelved

Staff Reporter

Their properties have been notified for acquisition
Civic agencies have stopped developmental work

BANGALORE: The announcement of a six-lane elevated road between Hebbal and Yelahanka and widening of the existing stretch by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide hassle-free connectivity to Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) has raised hopes among people who were set to lose their property for another project connecting the airport.

638 acres notified

Hundreds of residents whose properties have been notified for the 21-km expressway project connecting Horamavu and BIA are waiting with bated breath as their future hangs in the balance. The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) notified 638 acres on the 21-km stretch in March 2007, following which the area hardly witnessed any developmental activities.

Confusion

Residents whose properties have been notified for acquisition for the Rs. 1,500-crore expressway project from Horamavu have been at the receiving end amid confusion over the changes in the design. “Development has not taken place since no new construction is allowed after the properties are notified. Even those who want to dispose of their property cannot do so,” P. Ramanujan, a resident of Challakere told The Hindu.

Since the first notices for the proposed acquisition were served on the property owners in September 2006, civic agencies have not taken up any developmental work on the pretext of the area being notified. “The NHAI project is a good alternative proposed, and airport has already commenced functioning without causing much of a problem. It is good to give up the expressway project, as it will take a few years to complete,” Mr. Ramanujan said.

Viability study

Sources in the BMRDA said they were not aware of the fate of the project with the new elevated expressway being taken up, as it had been handed over to the NHAI. Sources in the NHAI said a viability study for the 21-km expressway was still under way.

The official said that studies were being conducted to ascertain the financial viability and ways of reducing the project cost. Design changes were also being looked into, and some modifications could also be suggested in the viability study, which is likely to take three more months. “There are also a couple of cases against the project pending in court. All these aspects have to be looked into,” the official said.

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