Acquiring forest land in Kadugodi is proving to be difficult task for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The corporation is facing one hurdle after another in its attempt to acquire land for a depot.
It had initially planned to purchase 67 acres of private land near Bhadra Tiger Reserve in lieu of forest land in Kadugodi. However, this has been dropped.
BMRCL officials said that the land owners were quoting an exorbitant price. “They wanted compensation of approximately ₹1 crore per acre,” said a senior official.
Acting on suggestions from the forest department, the BMRCL has now identified 16 acres of revenue land near Thippagondanahalli. This will be acquired to take up afforestation work as compensatory land for the Kadugodi plot.
“After the plan to acquire the land near Bhadra Tiger Reserve fell through, the forest department suggested the revenue land available near Madapatna forest. We have already written to the deputy commissioner concerned to facilitate transfer of the land,” said a senior official with BMRCL.
Finding compensatory land in lieu of the Kadugodi plot has been a problem for BMRCL. The metro corporation had purchased 29.3 acres from 14 property owners in Dandeli for which it had paid compensation of ₹3 lakh per acre. It had planned to purchase another 15 acres. However, the plots of land were available in different locations, and not suitable to take up afforestation work.
“We are acquiring land as per the requirement of the forest department. After we could not acquire more land near Dandeli, they suggested some private land located adjacent to Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Now, are in talks with the revenue department to provide land near Madapatna forest area,” said BMRCL officials.
The 45 acres in Kadugodi are crucial for the metro extension project from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield. The BMRCL has a depot at Baiyappanahalli on the Purple Line. The land at Kadugodi will be used for a second depot on the same line, but acquisition of this land is also facing several legal hurdles.
For one, there are fears that 'compensation land' to be given to the forest department will not be of “worth” its value considering the land cost in Bengaluru. According to sources, the forest department has categorically told the BMRCL that it will first have to provide compensatory land before they could consider diversion of Kadugodi forest land for the metro project.
