Date:23/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/23/stories/2006082312240400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Telugu Desam asked to stop criticising ORR project

Special Correspondent

Changes ensure that only 260 structures are affected: Congress

Compensation hiked from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 3 lakhs
Road to take up only 65 m of proposed width of 150 m

Service roads, rail corridor to occupy rest of the space

HYDERABAD: The Congress has asked political parties, particularly Telugu Desam, to stop levelling `unnecessary' allegations against the Government on the Outer Ring Road project.

APCC spokesman N. Tulasi Reddy said on Monday that the original plan for the ORR project was mooted during the TDP regime and the Government had taken up the project with certain modifications.

While the previous design was affecting more than 3,000 structures along its 60-km span, the changes made had ensured that only 260 were affected.

The Government had increased the compensation amount from Rs. 10,000 previously to Rs. 3 lakhs and was trying to enhance it further. Moreover, the parties that were raising a hue and cry over the compensation were ignoring the fact that the price of land owned by more than 80,000 farmers in 83 villages abutting the ORR had shot up.

Responding to the criticism on the width of the ORR, he said only 65 m of the proposed 150 m would be used for the road while the remaining span would be utilised for service roads, tree plantation as well as the rail corridor that would come up along the road in future.