VIJAYAWADA: After initial hiccups, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has commissioned widening of the Mahatma Gandhi Road stretch between Benz Circle and Auto Nagar from the existing 80 feet to 100 ft in order to ease traffic congestion.
According to engineering department officials of VMC, the civic body had initially proposed to extend the road to 120 ft. In a series of meetings between J Nivas and property owners, VMC sought the latter to accept compensation through
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Bonds and extend the road to 120 feet.
However, the property owners firmly opposed VMC’s request and asked them to pay the compensation in the form of money if it wished to extend the road to 120 ft. Taking into consideration its financial constraints, the VMC decided to extend the road from 80 ft to only 100 ft through paying compensation in the form of TDR bonds.
When contacted, VMC chief engineer P Adiseshu said that the town planning department officials were instructed to mark the properties for demolition following the master plan. A team of officials have been appointed to conduct a ground level survey for carrying out the road widening works, he said. Civil works will commence in the next few days, he added.
Form of compensation
Landowners asked VMC to pay the compensation in the form of money if it wished to extend the road to 120 ft. Due to financial constraints, it was decided to extend the road to 100 feet by paying compensation in the form of TDR bonds