If you travel by the Outer Ring Road, you would not have missed the ‘flyover’ at Hennur junction that stands high with no access on either side. For the past three years, the incomplete flyover has remained as an indicator of lack of planning by civic agencies and challenges they face in land acquisition for infrastructure projects in the city.
Apart from the Hennur flyover, there are three railway overbridges (ROBs) that face a similar fate. While two projects are in limbo with the Ministry of Defence refusing to part with parcels of land, the work on the other two have been stuck owing to acquisition issues with private property owners.
There seems to be some hope finally for these projects. Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which is building the Hennur flyover and the ROB at MES junction, Jalahalli, conceded to the demands of the landowners to compensate them according to the new Land Acquisition Act — which will result in cost escalation — in its board meeting on September 23. Meanwhile, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which is building the ROB at Allalasandra has also compensated two private property owners as per the new Act. However, the work on Byappanahalli ROB is hanging fire as the Ministry of Defence has reportedly refused for a land swap.
What is common to all these four projects is that no notification was issued for land acquisition and the agencies commenced work before all the land required for the projects was in their possession. As the acquisition of land ran into troubled waters, the work on the projects also came to a halt.
“The usual procedure is to start the project after all the land is in our possession. But these projects have begun even without a notification,” conceded Srinivas, Special DC, Land Acquisition, BDA.
Urban infrastructure expert Ashwin Mahesh said that projects should be cleared only after the agency gets the consent of all the affected parties and takes possession of all the land required for the project. He added that like projects being crippled by some parcels of land not being acquired, there were also projects that have been dropped for the same reason, but the parcels of land acquired not returned.
Railway Overbridge at MES junction, Jalahalli, Outer Ring Road
Started in 2012; South Western Railway and BDA share the project cost
10,000 sq. m of defence land needed to build the a down-ramp
The project is in limbo because 10,000 sq. m of defence land is yet to be acquired. While BDA authorities have completed the up-ramp, the project is stalled as the civic agency does not have land for the down-ramp.
With the project stuck for the past two years, traffic snarls in the area have become a routine. Sanjeev Dyamannavar, a civic activist who commutes on the stretch daily, said it takes at least 45 minutes to cross the half-a-kilometre stretch, making management of traffic a herculean task for the police.
The project may finally see some progress now. On September 23, the BDA board resolved to pay the Defence Department compensation under the new Land Acquisition Act, which has led to escalation in the project cost. However, it is yet to be seen if the defence authorities agree to part with the land.
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Flyover at Hennur, ORR
53,000 sq. m of private properties and a temple to be acquired
No notification was issued to acquire land
The flyover on Outer Ring Road may well be one of the most delayed projects in the city.
In 2010, the BDA began work on the flyover by building the carriage way. It later dawned upon BDA engineers that a high-tension electric line passing over the flyover was too low. The project hit a roadblock and it took almost two years for the HT line to be raised.
Yet, the project has not seen any progress as the private property owners are not willing to part with their land. Muniraju, president of Hennur RWA, said that all their protests against agencies demanding completion of the work had fallen on deaf ears.
The BDA claims the work will see progress as its board has approved the move to disburse compensation under the new Land Acquisition Act.
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Railway Overbridge at Allalasandra
Started in 2012, the project cost is shared between South Western Railway and the BBMP
Around 7,500 sq. ft of private property needed for the down-ramp
The work on the ROB has been stalled for a year now. Those travelling through the area have to take a long detour, which is a major cause for traffic congestion in the area.
Acquisition of 7,500 sq. ft of private property for the down-ramp was a problem. BBMP’s Superintending Engineer (Major Roads) K.T. Nagaraj said the civic body had provided compensation according to the new Act to the two property owners and acquired the land required. “We now have the land to build the down-ramp, the project will be completed in three months,” he said.
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Railway Overbridge at Byappanahalli
Started in 2012, the project cost is shared between South Western Railway and the BBMP
Around 9,991 sq. m of defence land needed to build the down-ramp is causing the delay
The work has been discontinued for at least a year now, as defence authorities have refused to give up 9,991 sq. m of land required to build the down-ramp.
Though the stalled project is not causing much traffic congestion, the project, if completed, will improve the traffic flow in the area. The BBMP has offered to provide alternative land in Ulsoor for the land to be acquired here. However, the proposal has not enthused the defence authorities and as a result, the project is in limbo.
