VIJAYAWADA: Residents and shopkeepers of Eluru Road in the city have made it clear that they will not let the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to acquire land for the construction of metro rail corridor along the 12.1 km stretch from old bus stand to Nidamanuru.
Few days ago, a section of residents and shopkeepers have submitted their objections to sub-collector Saloni Sidana and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) deputy project director Pandu Ranga Rao asking them to shift the metro corridor construction from Eluru Road to the BRTS Road.
The DRMC had planned to construct two corridors in the city at an estimated cost of Rs 6,823 crore and first trail run of metro rail was expected to be carried out by February, 2019.
However, the officials have decided to take up the first metro corridor in the city on Eluru Road as there would be no issues with land acquisition compared to the hurdles they have been facing to acquire land on Bandar Road.
But, the expectations of the officials were belied as public vehemently opposed the land acquisition move.
“Earlier the civic body and R&B officials have acquired some part of my land for widening the Eluru Road stretch. And now, the officials have come again to acquire land for constructing the metro corridor,” lamented K Srinivasa Rao, a shopkeeper near Vijaya Talkies Centre.
Majority of the poor and middle class are doing business on the Eluru Road stretch for decades.
“Why the State government was so keen on acquiring the land on Eluru Road, instead it can take up the metro corridor construction on BRTS Road which was developed as four-lane road with crores of rupees. Moreover, the BRTS Road has viability for executing the project and reduce the burden on the State government,” said Ch Nancharaiah, a resident.
“How can the State government act unilaterally and acquire land for metro corridor on Eluru Road from the residents and shopkeepers without their consent. I am not ready to give away my house located on the proposed metro corridor stretch. If officials forcibly try to acquire land from me, I will approach High Court and get stay order,” said V Rukmini Devi, a resident.
When contacted, DRMC project deputy director Pandu Ranga Rao said that initially the officials have marked the buildings along the stretch of Eluru Road that come in the way of construction of the first metro rail corridor. All measures are being taken by the government in compensating the residents and shopkeepers whose lands will be acquired for the proposed project.
“A detailed survey was also conducted on Sambamurthy Road and BRTS Road to shift the metro rail corridor, before finalising the Eluru Road stretch,” said Pandu
Ranga Rao.
Close to 4,000 persons will get displaced on Sambamurthy Road. While the BRTS Road was not viable for executing the project as its length was just 4.5 km, he added.