In order to fasten up the land acquisition on Old Bhandara Road, a new formula was finalised wherein 2.5 times of current ready reckoner rate would be provided as compensation to the property owners who are ready to execute direct sale deed to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
The said decision was finalised at a review meeting chaired by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, it is learnt.
Officials from Town Planning, Gandhibagh Zone, Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) were present at the meeting.
Apart from them Pravin Datke, MLC and President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nagpur City unit, was also pres- ent at the meeting.
The review meeting was held by Nitin Gadkari who is keen to speed up the land acquisi- tion process as it takes considerable time and frustrates the development process.
Another decision was that NMC was directed to hold a camp in Hansapuri for a week and guide the property owners about the process of putting together required documents of their respective property.
Gadkari also directed officials to provide 2 times the ready reckoner compensation to other property owners whose are entering into negotiated settlement.
Many social organisation have already put poser to NMC seeking information as to status of land acquisition on Old Bhandara Road that is to be widened to 60 feet and 90 feets in two stretches. Bhushan Dadwe, Convenor, Madhya NagpurVikas Aghadi, has been at forefront of agitating for immediate removal of encroachments and pulling down excess constructions that has reduced the width of road.
He further said that the Old Bhandara Road was previously a National Highway and heavy vehicles used to move regularly. Over the years as wholesale market area expand- ed, people exploited the adjoin- ing localities where property value is exponential. Many of the properties were constructed in violation of FSI and NMC can always take action if it desires, feel Dadwe who along with Ravi Paigwar, former Chairperson, Standing Committee, are fighting for the common man on street who faces several problems due to traffic snarls on the road.
NMC has got Rs 43 crore and has published a draft notice directing property owners to deposit their ownership doc- uments by March 10 and enter into negotiated settlement.
Efforts to contact NMC officials went into vain as they did not respond to repeat- ed calls.