Land acquisition for Metro Rail delayed

A lack of clear property titles and false claims over ‘poromboke' (government-owned land) have impeded land acquisition by Chennai Metro Rail. As a result, of the 100 properties identified for acquisition in the first phase, only 45 spread over three areas have reached different stages of acquisition. A total of 228 properties are identified for acquisition for the entire metro rail project.

“The extent of private properties required for both the corridors of Chennai Metro Rail is only 10 hectares. Bulk of the tracks and stations are constructed over government properties that are spread over 65 hectares. Hence there is no delay and the project is on schedule. We have proceeded with negotiations where the property titles were clear and the entire negotiations and will be completed on time. The rest of the properties will be acquired as per law,” explained K. Rajaraman, Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.

The Chennai Metro Rail has adopted the Land Acquisition Act (1894) to acquire properties, but it has chosen to first offer a negotiated value to the land owners, and seek their consent. It has taken the help of an international real estate consultant for arriving at the compensation value. About 18 months of land-transaction data of the area adjoining the identified properties were considered. At present, eight properties have reached the negotiation stage and one of them has been recently settled.

“Various factors have been considered while deciding on the compensation amount. The guideline value is only one of them. The consultants have gone into the location, shape, development potential of the properties and the earlier transactions. There is also a committee that has reviewed these values. The owners are invited for a negotiation and the compensation amount is informed. At this time they are offered an option of either getting the compensation in terms of cash or in the form of Transfer of Development Rights proportionate to the land lost and they can either use it themselves or sell it to other builders,” added Mr. Rajaraman.

The properties will be compulsorily acquired, if the negotiation fails and the cut-off date for determining the compensation value will be as mentioned in the Land Acquisition Act.