Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC) project has run into fresh complications over land compensation, as a decades-old award has clashed with a sharp rise in land value. However, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is moving ahead with negotiated payouts of up to Rs 16 crore per acre in select villages. Land for the project, earlier known as the Peripheral Ring Road, was notified in 2008-09 and BDA passed a compensation award of Rs 20-30 lakh per acre for 948 acres and 14.5 guntas, which is part of the 1,810 acres notified in the first phase. However, the project stalled for nearly 15 years due to farmers’ opposition, leaving acquisition incomplete.
With the Congress govt viewing the corridor as a key decongestion project, land acquisition has gained momentum, but the old award has created a legal impasse. “Since the award was passed, it cannot be withdrawn as per law,” an official said. “Alternate schemes of compensation can be considered only as ex-gratia and the final decision must be left to farmers.” Officials fear farmers covered by the 2008-09 award may approach courts seeking higher cash compensation, potentially straining project finances. Meanwhile, land prices have surged, with demands ranging from Rs 15 crore to Rs 40 crore per acre, especially in Varthur and Gunjur belt. Against this backdrop, BDA has begun acquiring land through negotiated compensation under a new framework, offering payouts of up to Rs 15.6 crore per acre in select villages. Several farmers have already given consent, prompting BDA to initiate acquisition of nearly 100 acres. Farmers have been offered five compensation options — cash, residential plots, commercial plots, transferable development rights (TDR) or floor area ratio (FAR). Village-wise details of negotiated cash compensation, TDR and FAR have been published on the BDA website. Four district collectors have been appointed to expedite the process, and acquisition is being initiated upon receipt of consent letters. LK Atheeq, BCC chairman, said the govt expects most landowners to opt for the alternate ex-gratia package. He said other land acquisition issues would be addressed alongside project development packages, adding that many landowners are opting for commercial sites in a 65:35 ratio — 8,385 sqft per acre — along the corridor, along with TDR. Meanwhile, a revised detailed project report (DPR) is under preparation. Under existing rules, tenders can be floated only after 80% of land acquisition is completed. BDA has written to the govt seeking permission to call tenders after completing 60% of the acquisition.
