Pune: 200 hectare land acquisition still pending for Ring Road project

Rs 500 crore demanded from Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation

Pune: The District Administration has demanded funds amounting to Rs 500 crore from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to acquire 200 hectare land in the east and the west areas of the proposed Ring Road, which will solve traffic issues in Pune.

District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase said, “Land acquisition for the Ring Road project is in the final stage. Instructions have been issued to acquire around 200 hectare land immediately, for which Rs 500 crore has been demanded from the MSRDC.”

Officials said that land owners would be given a 25-pc higher compensation if they hand over their land till December 15. Later, mandatory land acquisition would be done.

District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase on Wednesday (December 11) held a meeting with regard to delayed land acquisition for Ring Road. Land Acquisition Coordinator Kalyan Pandhare and Land Acquisition Officers from various other places were present. The District Collectorate claimed that 90 pc of the land was acquired for the project.

Around 1,740 hectare land is needed for the project. There was a target of acquiring 858.96 hectare from 47 villages in the eastern areas and 644.11 hectare from 36 villages in the western areas. Around 1,300 hectare land has been acquired. Acquisition of 143 hectare from the eastern area and 63 hectare from the western area is still pending. The District Administration has undertaken the compensation process of the acquired land, said Land Acquisition Coordinator Kalyan Pandhare.

Land remains to be acquired in eastern talukas such as Purandar, Bhor, Haveli, Mulshi and Maval and in western talukas of Khed and Maval. If land is acquired with the consent of owners, a 25 pc higher compensation would be given. Later, land will be acquired mandatorily. Compensation would be four times higher in mandatory acquisition. Taluka Land Acquisition Officers were instructed clearly about this in the meeting.

Some Land Acquisition Officers still have some compensation leftover funds. However, the District Administration needs funds to acquire the remaining 206 hectare land. Therefore, it has demanded Rs 500 crore from the MSRDC. The administration instructed MSRDC officials to deposit funds directly with Land Acquisition Officers concerned.