Loops on Expressway: SC seeks govt response

[racingdude]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/loops-on-expressway-sc-seeks-govt-response/554316/


The Supreme Court sought a response on Monday from the UP government
regarding the construction of inter-change loops on the Taj
Expressway.



The court’s order came after a bunch of petitions by landowners
challenged acquisition of land for the work. Directing that status quo
be maintained on the issue, the court heard the petitioners’ claim
that land acquisition for the construction was beyond the scope of the
project.



The petitioners had claimed that they had not received an opportunity
to be heard prior to the issuance of notification under the emergency
clause of the Land Acquisition Act.

The two disputed sites are located on Agra-Hathras Road.



The acquisition, the petitioners contended, was illegal since the
property lies over 240 metres from the outer boundary of the
Expressway. But according to an agreement between the UP government
and the construction company, the latter was permitted to acquire land
only within 100 meters of the road.

“There is no public purpose attached to the entire project as the road
is also not a free road but a toll road, where the developer is
allowed to dictate its own toll fee,” the petitioners told the court.



The Expressway, as it was conceived, was supposed to be built on
virgin land or the wasteland around Yamuna. “But it is being
constructed on the fertile lands of farmers,” they said in the
submission.