176 of 300 pvt properties get notice for acquisition in Nagpur metro rail project

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) has started the process to acquire private properties, which is expected to be a big challenge. Notices have been issued to 176 of total 300 property owners for acquisition. Project-affected persons (PAPs) will get compensation of 2 to 2.5 times the value of the land, which is to be decided by NMRCL.

Of total 176 properties, three structures will be acquired completely; a huge residential-cum-commercial building with basement+ground+4 floors at Congress Nagar square, and two ground+one floor residential buildings at Ambazari T-point and near Wardhaman Nagar Square on Central Avenue.

NMRCL officials said acquisition of private properties is likely to be a smooth affair since the majority of 176 property owners have given the green signal. Process to issue notices to remaining 120-125 property owners is going on.

NMRCL general manager (land acquisition) DG Philips, a retired IAS officer, told TOI the estimated cost of acquiring private properties will be around 650 crore. “Around 6.5 hectares of private properties on two corridors will be acquired. Hearing of PAPs to whom notices were issued has started from Monday. Majority of the PAPs have given consent in writing,” he said.

Philips said NMRCL is in final stage of acquiring properties owned by government departments. “Around 105 hectare owned by government departments was to be acquired. Maximum property has been acquired while process to get remaining is going on. Estimated cost of acquiring government departments properties is around 600 crore. NMRCL does not require to give compensation in cash for government properties. It will be a book adjustment in case properties are owned by central, state, NMC, NIT etc as all have share in NMRCL’s expenditure,” he said.

Philips said properties to be acquired for the project have been finalized as per metro rail corridor alignment. “Around 20 meter width on two corridors has been finalized as alignment. Metro rail tracks will be 10 meter above road surface. Metro rail pillars and girders will cover around 12.50 meter in total 20 meter alignment. Area of around 3.75 meter on both sides will be breathing space. Any property, structure or open space in the 20 meter alignment will have to be acquired. Majority of properties to be acquired are part of open spaces in front of private buildings,” he said.

Majority of private properties finalized for acquisition fall on metro rail corridor turning points. To make acquisition of private properties easy, NMRCL has come up with a systematic plan, that ensures good compensation. Officials including Philips are interacting with each PAP and holding hearing to inform them in detail about compensation and clear any confusion. However, chances of some controversies cannot be ruled out since a couple of owners among the 176 to get notices have opposed NMRCL’s proposal.

BREAKING TO START BUILDING

Major Properties To Be Acquired

Biggest Structure: Impressions Plaza, a residential-cum-commercial building with basement+ground+ 4 floors situated in 16,000 sq ft land at Congress Nagar square. Around 75% of the building will be acquired including front elevation comprising 12 residential flats and 23 commercial shops. A hotel-cum-lodge is situated in rear portion, of which some part will be acquired

Complete Buildings: A ground+one floor residential building on left side at Ambazari T-point and a ground+one floor residential building near Wardhaman Nagar square on Central Avenue

Parts: Some parts of buildings and open spaces belonging to 173 persons to be acquired on two corridors. Process to finalize acquisition of another 120-125 properties going on

Acquisition Procedure: Notice will be issued to project affected persons. Hearing will be held at NMRCL office. After getting consent, engineer from NMRCL will complete technical verification of properties and title verification through advocates. NMRCL will put up proposal before committee headed by collector in case PAPs are ready to handed over property through sale deed, or for land acquisition with land acquisition officer at collector office. Compensation will be issued as per approval

Compensation

Two Patterns

* PAPs can directly execute sale deed with NMRCL. PAPs will get 2.5 times of the value decided by NMRCL

* NMRCL will ask land acquisition officer of collectorate to acquire land and hand over to them. PAPs will have to go through long process and get 2 times of value decided by NMRCL

How Value Is Decided

The higher value of the following three options will be fixed as value of property

* Ready reckoner value of property

* Value given by any government department in the vicinity

* Value of sale deed executed for any property adjacent to the property to be acquired