Payment of dues via RTGS cuts red tape

LUCKNOW: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation of the Rs 14,000crore Bundelkhand Expressway on December 16, it will set a record for the fastest acquisition of land for a highway project in the state. The 296km expressway cutting through the state’s backward backyard and straddling six districts, witnessed seamless acquisition of 3,440 hectare in record 10 months without an echo of protest from villagers. At least 20,860 farmers earned a total of Rs 2,200crore by selling drought-hit land and receiving four times the circle rate from the flagship project.At a time, when Niti Ayog flagged off the issue of complex land acquisition laws and exorbitant compensation in road-related projects as a strain on UP coffers, the Bundelkhand Expressway stands out as a successful model in terms of speedy land acquisition and low project cost.Talking to TOI, UPEIDA chief executive officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi, who is also additional chief secretary home and information, said land acquisition began in February and 96% acquisition was complete by November 30. The remaining 4% acquisition would be complete by the time PM Modi lays the foundation of the expressway. The daily acquisition rate of 11,433 hectares was a record in itself.When the project was approved by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the UPEIDA, executing agency of the expressway projects in the state, was required to purchase nearly 3,616 hectare in six districts, including Chitrakoot and Hamirpur in Bundelkhand and by November-end, 96% land was purchased from over 20,000 farmers.Also, UPEIDA purchased land from farmers and directly transferred cost and compensation into accounts of farmers through real-time gross settlement (RTGS) from the state treasury, cutting red tape.The Bundelkhand expressway is a dream project of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who has been reviewing progress of the project in regular presentations and the cabinet has been swift in approving UPEIDA decisions. Timely acquisition also cut cost escalation by 12%.“The pathetic condition of the region which witnessed starvation deaths in the past also drew the attention of the chief minister, who visualised this project as a gamechanger that will trigger economic activity in Bundelkhand,” said Awasthi.