Land compensation for four-lane project begins

Our Correspondent

Palampur, June 20

The NHAI has released a sum of Rs 145 crore to the district authorities on account of the cost of land and buildings acquired as land acquisition process has been completed for the first phase of the four-lane project between Pathankot (Kandwal) and 32 Miles in Kangra district.

The SDM Nurpur, who is also Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), has started distribution of land compensation to the affected parties.

A senior officer in local project office of the NHAI said that global bids for the first phase of the project had already been completed and construction work of the highway valuing Rs 1,002.11 crore had been awarded to a Gurgaon-based construction company.

He said over 90 per cent land for the first phase of the project had already been transferred in the name of the NHAI, which was one of the conditions for the completion of the bidding process. The four-lane strategic project was hanging fire since long. The company concerned will take up the construction work after signing an agreement with the NHAI.

He said as per the project report, the width of the road will be between 32 m and 60 m at different points according to availability of land. A flyover has been proposed at Jassur town, a gateway to Punjab.

He said land acquisition for the second phase between 32 Mile and Mattor and for the fifth phase between Padhar and Mandi was also in the final stages and hopefully would be completed in the next six months. Thereafter, the NHAI would take up land acquisition for third and fourth phases from Paror (Kangra) to Padhar in Mandi.