The Times of India  08.10.2010

JAIPUR: The work on ring road will begin in February next year and would be completed in two years. Urban development and housing minister Shanti Dhariwal said this after performing bhoomi poojan' for the service roads for the ambitious project at Shivdaspura on Thursday.

Dhariwal said a new detailed project report is being prepared after the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has decided to execute the project on its own and would be ready by November. He said tenders would be floated after getting the project report. "We are confident that the project would take off in February next year and project is expected to be completed by 2013," he told reporters.

Construction of ring road was conceived in December 2000 by the previous Gehlot government. In Phase I & II, a road with a length of 47 km proposed to be constructed in the south of Jaipur, connecting Ajmer Road, Tonk Road and Agra Road. In Phase III, a road with a length of 97.75 km will be constructed in the northern part of Jaipur and will connect Agra Road, Delhi Road, Sikar Road and Ajmer Road.

It will consist of a six-lane access controlled expressway; a three-lane service road on both sides; a 135 m strip of land will be acquired for construction of road and developed area on either side. The road is envisaged as a toll-free and signal free expressway.

Dhariwal said the project is a prestigious one for the Gehlot government. He said all issues relating to the acquisition of land have been sorted out and the farmers whose land would be acquired have been given a special compensation package. "We have changed the formula for the compensation to people whose land would be acquired for the project," he said.

Under the existing norm the land owners would be given 20% developed land for residential purposes and 5% for commercial activities in lieu of the agricultural land acquired.

However, in this case though the quantum of land is the same 25%, there is no restriction on land use. They can use all their 25% land for commercial or residential purposes as per their choice. There is no restrictions form the JDA of the land use, he said.

He added that the farmers have also the option of choosing either cash compensation or developed land according to their choice. Jaipur MP Mahesh Joshi, UDH principal secretary GS sandhu and senior officials of the JDA were present on the occasion.

According to sources the bhoomi poojan was performed to give out a message that the government is determined on the execution of the much discussed and delayed project.

Mansarovar extension project abandoned

Jaipur MP Mahesh Joshi said the housing board has abandoned the Mansarovar extension project considering the resistance from the local residents for the acquisition of land. He said the state government has decided to abandon the project due to opposition.