Farmers’ anti-land acquisition stir forces rethink on highways plan

The road transport and highways ministry's plan to build some 18,637 km expressways by 2022, already running well behind schedule, has suffered a further setback following the recent farmers' protests against the Yamuna expressway project between New Delhi and Agra in Uttar Pradesh, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi's remark favouring just compensation for land acquisition.

The government has decided to go back to the drawing board on the creation of an expressway authority and the funding pattern of the projects, according to various reports.

''We are observing the developments in UP. We have to assess whether the model of clubbing real estate with expressway development is feasible going forward, or whether we need other funding options,'' a surface transport ministry official reportedly said. If there is a stalemate on Yamuna, the Union road transport and highways ministry may consider reviewing the real estate-linked funding model.

Although there is no official word on this, the road ministry, which was in the process of finalising a draft bill for creation of an expressway authority and take views of state governments, has decided to go slow on the proposals. Last year, highways minister Kamal Nath had announced that a separate authority will be created by 2010 for implementation of expressway projects. The plan has been shelved for a few months till the centre firms up its land acquisition policy.

So far, the ministry has been seriously considering the same design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) model employed by Uttar Pradesh government for Yamuna expressway.

Under this model, the government would acquire land for the private developer who would in turn design and build the expressway. The builder would get the rights for collecting toll and real estate development alongside the expressway for a certain period. It would also have rights to develop land for residential, commercial and institutional purposes along the alignment. However, the model will now have to be re-thought.