News Detail

• The state government's apathy towards land acquisition and disbursement of compensation in the ongoing widening of Delhi-Jaipur NH-8 could cause it to overstep the scheduled deadline of June 2012. The state government's lax attitude in providing land for widening of roads in Shahpura and Kotputli is delaying the project further. Even after 5 years of the commencement of the project the land acquisition has not been done at some places. "The compensation amount is yet to be distributed to the people whose land has been acquired. At many places cheques have been given but the acquisition is pending due to local people's resistance. The major problem is arising in Kotputli where there is stiff protest from the shopkeepers and local leaders. All these factors are contributing in delaying the project," said sources. Similarly, Sanjay Van, a forest area between Jaipur and Alwar is entangled in the clearances and forest department is asking for the Rs 1.15 crore as compensation.

• The delay in the project will increase the time period of toll tax which is now fixed for 12 years. "If the desired progress is not achieved in the project it will benefit the contractors who will increase their cost," said the official. Earlier, CP Joshi, Union minister for road transport and highways had expressed his displeasure over the pace of the project and instructed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to expedite the work. "We are working hard to get the project done on time and all efforts are being made in that regard. But the way things are moving it will only be completed before December 2012," said an NHAI official.

• In a stretch of 225 km under NHAI, 88 structures including flyovers and underpass need to be constructed. But till now only 55 such structures have been constructed. National highway-8 was meant to reduce the distance between the two cities to 5 hours. However with the ongoing construction for past many years the travelling time has increased to 8 hours. Adding woes to the commuters' problems are frequent jams and potholed roads.

Land issue: DMRC faces tough situation

• Delay in land transfer might affect the Metro project. With immediate land requirement at some places the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is facing a tough situation. Lalit Meghnani, DMRC project director said, "At some places land is required urgently. If land is not transferred within this month there can be a possible delay." The DMRC has not started work between Shyam Nagar and Ram Nagar stations as the land owner of a private property has approached the court. "This land is a critical point as it is the middle point between two stations," said a DMRC official.

• Similarly, work between railway station and Sindhi Camp has not been started as three people whose properties fall on this route have approached the court. An official explained that the work between two stations can only be started, if the complete possession of land as per the proposed alignment has been taken. Frequent accidents at Metro sites have already delayed the Jaipur Metro project by two months. An official said that after an accident, the project work is stopped for 3-4 days. "It is important for us to complete the civil operation on time as around six months is required for operational testing such as signals, power, etc," said a DMRC official. If the DMRC completes Jaipur metro phase I, Mansarovar to Chandpol (9.5-km) by June 2013 it would be the world's fastest metro project of this scale.

Source