Bangalore Chennai Express Highway 6 Lane road in Future.............................

National Highways Authority of India will acquire properties in 13 villages in Hoskote to make way for the proposed six-lane, 262-km expressway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun land acquisition work for the 262-km Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway for those driving to cover the distance within three hours flat. The expressway will be an access-controlled road and vehicles are likely to be allowed to cruise at 120 km/h. Generally, expressways including Mumbai-Pune allow speeds up to 80 km/hr. The project is expected to take five years to be ready. The project, which was mooted a decade ago, has now found itself in the fast-track mode: The NHAI has kick-started the land acquisition process for the nearly 76 km of road that cuts through Karnataka.

"This is a greenfield project and will reduce the distance and travel time between the two cities which are already connected by two highways," NHAI authorities told Bangalore Mirror.

Gazette notification for acquisition of 2,050 acres (830 hectares) of land in Bengaluru Rural and Kolar districts of the state has been issued recently. Land will be acquired in 13 villages (including the infamous Dandupalya village) of Bengaluru Rural district most of them close to Hoskote, a real estate hotbed. In Kolar district acquisitions will be made in 22 villages of Malur taluk, two villages of Kolar taluk, 37 villages of Bangarpet taluk including Bethamangala and two villages of Mulbagal taluk.

ALTERNATIVE LAND? 

 People who will lose properties in the 13 villages near Hoskote are the most concerned. While those in arid Kolar are approaching the authorities to know if they will get enough compensation, those from Bengaluru Rural are demanding alternate land instead of compensation. Land owners form the 13 villages are making a beeline before the NHAI officers.

The land rates here are around Rs 1 crore per acre and no one wants monetary compensation in the hope that rates would zoom further with the construction of the highway, Bangalore Mirror learnt.

Out of the 2,050 acres that will be acquired for the road in Karnataka, these 13 villages will contribute a little over 371 acres or around 1,501,991 sq metres.

NHAI sources said after the first of the three notifications were issued on May 23 many people form these 13 villages were approaching them and most of them are concerned about getting alternate land.

However whatever the demand made by the public the NHAI will fix the rates based on its discussion with the deputy commissioner of revenue department and calculating it based on the most recent market prices. NHAI sources say they pay only compensation and not alternate land for acquisition. Courts have hardly ever interfered in the acquisition and compensation matters of NHAI, so even this time the authority is confident that the acquisition process would be smooth.

The third and final notification, which will contain the names of land owners, will be issued only a year from now. After the first notification, people can approach the special officer within 21 days if they have any issue with the land notified. Any standing structure on the notified land, whether it is temple, school or hospital will not prevent the takeover. Special officer for this project in Karnataka, AM Shylaja Priyadarshini, confirmed that landowners are approaching her but it was normal procedure.

Of the 76 Km of road passing through Karnataka, the NHAI has realigned only one stretch at the Jadganehalli Reserve Forest. There will be one railway over bridge in Kolar.

VILLAGES TO BE AFFECTED

The 13 villages near Hoskote are:

*Dandupalya *Kolathur * Vadigehalli * Vagata *Karibeernahoshalli * Gonakanahalli * Tirthahalli *Thaggalihosahalli * Hulluru Amanikere * Jinnagara *Kannurahalli * Chandrapura * Chimandahalli

BENGALURU to CHENNAI

Distance: 262 km; Inside Karnataka: 76 km

Acquisition in state: 2,050 acres

Acquisition near Hoskote: 371 acres

Project completion: 5 years