Metro rail project: Land owners are willing
Published: 05th July 2012 09:19 AM | Last Updated: 05th July 2012 09:19 AM | A+A A-
The land owners on Banerjee Road and MG Road who had to surrender land for metro rail-related infrastructure projects have seemingly softened their stand with the Union Cabinet granting its final nod for the city’s dream project on Tuesday.
Having earlier taken a stiff stand that they would approach the courts, the land owners climbed down and said that they were waiting for a discussion with the Chief Minister.
Those owning land along MG Road were demanding Rs 1 crore per cent, as against Rs 35 lakh fixed by the District-Level Purchasing Committee (DLPC).
The land owners, who have formed an association to raise their voice, alleged that the authorities were denying fair value for their land.
“We are willing to surrender our land as it is for the development of the city. We are not against development. We demand fair price for our land,” said M V Varghese, convenor of the Association of Land Owners.
“Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has asked us to wait for a few days as he had promised us that our demand would be considered.
We would move court only after talks with the Chief Minister,” he said.
Varghese, however, said that land owners had not changed their demand for `1 crore for one cent.
“According to recent order by the Supreme Court, when land is taken over by the government, the land owner is entitled for the highest value in the locality.
If land value is fixed on this basis, we are eligible for a compensation of about `1 crore for a cent,” Varghese said.
As per the current plan, 56.
25 cents on Banerjee Road, nine cents on MG Road and 37.
5 cents along the Jose Junction-South Railway Station stretch will have to be acquired for widening the existing road.
Twenty-two metres width on Banerjee Road and 18 metres on MG Road have been proposed.
“The proposed acquisition is only for widening the road, which is a part of the preparatory work for metro rail,” he said.