HMDA and landowners to bury hatchet over ORR

HYDERABAD: The legal tussle between the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and some landowners pertaining to the construction of the Outer Ring Road at Kandlakoya Junction is expected to come to an end soon, after ten years. The metropolitan body and the property owners have held consultations, as per the directions of the Supreme Court, to come to an agreement regarding the compensation amount. It has been learnt that the landowners have agreed to accept the package offered by the HMDA as per the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013.

The metropolitan body has so far been unable to acquire nearly 110 acres of land near Kandlakoya due to pending legal cases, first at the High Court and later at the Supreme Court. While some landowners were willing to part with their lands, others refused to do so and moved court alleging that project alignments had been changed to suit the needs of influential persons. As a result of this, the HMDA has completed only 156.9 km of the eight-lane expressway, and a 1.1 km stretch at Kandlakoya Junction had been left out.

The case has been heard at the Supreme Court since 2010. Commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu’s persistent efforts over the past two years and his decision to engage former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to fight the case on behalf of the government seems to have paid off. The apex court has agreed with the HMDA’s submission that a project of national importance cannot be halted due to opposition from a few landowners despite the body’s readiness to give them fair compensation as per the Act of 2013.

It has been learnt that the HMDA will pay Rs 127 crore for the acquisition of nearly 111 acres. Sources say that Rs 2.25 crore will be offered for every acre of land acquired, and property owners giving up plots will receive Rs 15,000 per square yard. The metropolitan body has informed the government of its decision and is awaiting confirmation before both parties approach the apex court expressing their willingness to mutually settle the matter and end the dispute. The authorities have expressed confidence that the legal formalities will be completed within the next two months.

Meanwhile, HMDA, which received a go-ahead from the SC a few months ago to resume road works at Kandlakoya pending final judgment, is expected to complete the construction work within the next few months. Works on the main carriageway are underway, after which the construction of service roads will be taken up.