In an effort to expedite the construction of Phase III of the Barapullah flyover between Mayur Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan, which is well on course to missing its October 2017 deadline, the Delhi government has formally initiated the process of acquiring disputed land on the Yamuna floodplains “on its own terms.”
Supporting pillars
According to a senior government official, the Public Works Department (PWD) has rejected local land owners' demand of ₹7 crore per acre as the compensation in lieu of an estimated 8 acres required for the construction of three to four concrete pillars to support the extradosed part of the flyover over the floodplains.
The government, the official said, has taken a step forward by engaging a private agency to assess new compensation rates “as per law” following which these will be communicated to the said land owners, who are expected to be in agreement, leading to the successful acquisition of the required land and the commencement of construction.
‘Completion in a year’
“Construction was held up mainly because of the land acquisition issue, which not only seems to be heading in the right direction but has officially begun. Erecting three to four pillars on the floodplain, which constitute one-third of the flyover, is essential for the completion of the project which could materialise within a year if the land is obtained,” said a source.
The said pillars, which are meant to support around 3.5-km of the 10-km-long flyover being constructed at a cost of ₹964 crore between Mayur Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan, happen to fall on an estimated eight-acre swathe of private land, whose owners were demanding ₹7 crore per acre from the Delhi government as compensation.
Four phases
The entire corridor is composed of four separate phases and intended as a signal-free corridor dedicated to commuters travelling between east Delhi and IGIA in the future with a ripple effect on and easing congestion across the city.
“The acquisition of the required land is also being closely monitored due to its expected implications on its subsequent phase, in south Delhi in particular and Delhi in general,” the official added.
A feasibility study on phase IV of the project is currently underway and will pave the way for extension of the project to the airport, as originally envisioned.
