Inordinate delay in land acquisition for widening of the Chennai-Tada Road has led to the contractor wanting to opt out of the project. Acquisition for the road, which is under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has to be done by the State government.
The 43.4 km stretch of road, which is part of the NH 5 to Kolkata, is being widened at a cost of Rs. 418.75 crore by Larsen and Toubro. The project began in 2009 and was to have been completed in 2011, but till date only about 50 per cent of works have been finished due to lack of encumbrance-free land, said NHAI sources .
“Land acquisition has not progressed beyond a certain level. In some places land owners are refusing to move and are not accepting the compensation. In the 10 km stretch from Madhavaram junction, land acquisition has not been completed even though six years have gone by,” the source explained.
Sources in L & T said that they had sent a termination letter to NHAI stating the inordinate delay in land acquisition. “We have constructed flyovers and underpasses but are unable to connect it to the road since land is not available. If we get land in bits and pieces we cannot widen the road. Our men and equipment have remained idle. The cost of construction has also escalated, we cannot afford at the rate that was fixed six years ago,” said a source adding that if NHAI resolves the issues the company is keen to complete the project with available land.
NHAI sources said they had issued notice to the company saying they have to complete the work since the concession period is for 20 years. “We have de-scoped them from the balance work and the matter is with NHAI head quarters,” the source explained.
Road users complain the delay in land acquisition has led to the road being unsafe. “In some places, it is wide and in others, narrow. Two-wheeler riders find it tough to use the road. Why should we pay toll when the road is not in a good condition,” asked Suresh Kumar, a resident.
