Old Bhandra Rd widening: Fresh survey begins

Nagpur: With the high court directives and constant pressure from Central Nagpur residents for widening of Old Bhandara Road, a fresh survey has began at the proposed site to find out hurdles in execution of the much-delayed project. The NMC has deployed 36 junior engineers from all the 10 zones to measure properties on the 3.275-km stretch and asked to submit reports by next week.During the survey, these NMC engineers would be measuring area of every property to be affected in the road widening work.
The proposal to widen this particular stretch was first made in 1965 and also finds mention in the city's master plan since 2000. As per city’s development plan, 45 roads were selected for widening. While 44 roads were widened, Old Bhandara Road stretch work stalled despite NMC completing preliminary survey of properties needed to be demolished. That survey had identified about 530 properties for demolition to widen the road to 60 feet. The civic body had also offered TDR and FSI to the affected families.
Simultaneously, the NMC’s project department has also approached the city survey department to depute a competent officer to assist the NMC in preparing submission of measurement case from the survey reports.
“The land plan schedule will include the identification of road width, survey number and survey plot number of the commercial and residential properties located on the roadside,” NMC sources said, adding that as per city survey records this patch of road passes through 5 to 6 city survey sheets.
After this, the extent of area that needs to be acquired and property analysis will be done and meetings with property owners will be held.
“While owners of some patches are ready to give their land as they feel they are located too close to the road and heavy traffic disturbs their normal life, land acquisition from the public will be difficult on most roads and that the project will be carried only on arterial road where commercial establishments are more,” an official said.
“Cash will not be given to the land/building owners as compensation in most of the cases. Instead, Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) will be encouraged, wherein the landowners’ assets are taken over or acquired by the government for the development of an area. The right to build the property in another location is encouraged,” the official added.