| TNN | May 18, 2016, 06.32 AM IST
Greater Noida: The eastern peripheral expressway (EPE) project is poised to take off on Wednesday, more than a year-and-a-half after the Supreme Court rapped the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and directed it to expedite its execution.
The project had hit several roadblocks in the past, especially from farmers in the area, who were refusing to part with their lands. However, on directions from the Supreme Court, farmers will now receive an enhanced compensation of Rs 3,500 per square metre as against Rs 850 per square metre.
According to Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate N P Singh, orders have been issued to additional DM (ADM) of land and relevant departments about the decision. “Following a representation by farmers to the arbitration committee seeking enhancement and after several rounds of talks with the agitating farmers, the compensation has been revised,” Singh told TOI. “Work by contractors appointed by the NHAI is expected to start from Wednesday, May 18,” he said.
“I have also given directions to my officials for distribution of the enhanced compensation once the formalities are completed with the NHAI. This should take about a week after which we will hold camps and start distribution without delay,” Singh said.
Farmers from 39 villages across Greater Noida have been protesting against the construction work since August 2015 when the contract for the project was awarded .
Recommended By Colombia
The have been demanding hiked compensation in lieu of their acquired land and at par with that given in other villages abutting land for the EPE.
Following their agitation, the NHAI had also earlier moved the apex court with an interlocutory application seeking “police protection from unwarranted obstruction from miscreants and vested interests,” who were obstructing construction of the expressway.According to the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), the said land has been directly purchased by the NHAI. “GNIDA will not be responsible for handing out the enhanced compensation as the land has been bought directly from farmers by NHAI,” a GNIDA official said. “The NHAI will direct the DM, who will now distribute the hiked compensation to the farmers,” he said.
In Greater Noida, the EPE will connect near the Yamuna Expressway and near the integrated township of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor while on NH-91 (Grand Trunk road) it will connect near Beel Akbarpur. Noida, Greater Noida, Dadri, GT Road, Ghaziabad, Dholana and Hapur will be decongested once the expressway is in place. Expected vehicular movement on the expressway is about one lakh per day by 2021.