Khammam: The greenfield highway project from Khammam to Devarapalli is going along expected lines.
Different barriers are coming up in the land acquisition process. There is much resistance from farmers to give their land for the project. At first, the government had planned to lay the road by widening the present road and taking up bypass roads wherever required. Experts pointed out the flaws in the project and also found fault in the laying of more bypass roads.
With this, greenfield highway project came to the fore and a separate road from Khammam to Devarapalli was planned. Land will be acquired as per the requirement. The changing plan hit the farmers of the other areas. They came onto the roads protesting against the project. Not caring about their ire, officials marked the land that was required for the project.
The distance from Khammam to Devarapalli is 187 kms. About 92 kms will be in the Khammam district. Nearly 18 acres are needed for each kilometre and it is expected that in 11 mandals nearly 1,800 acres are required for this. Political parties like the Congress and the Telugu Desam have opposed the land acquisition.
The farmers are so reluctant in giving their lands that they have formed a joint action committee against the land acquisition.
Officials have tried to explore alternative ways to complete the project. As per one plan, some portion of the existing road could be used for the project. But, there was no clarity for the engineers on how to lay the road project. Some of the farmer leaders, who had certain influence at the Centre, tried to change the alignment. Clarity on the road project will come only after the general elections are completed.
