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Meeting to iron out BRTS bottlenecks on the cards

VISAKHAPATNAM: An awareness meeting of corporators and Standing Committee members of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is expected to take place sometime during the week on the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) proposed from Pendurthi to Dwarakanagar via NAD Kotha Road, Kancharapalem and the Railway Station.

The meeting scheduled for March 15 had been put off mainly to ensure the presence of MLAs, it was learnt.

Fifteen corporators whose divisions fall in the corridor are invited for the meeting.

The crux of the meeting is to thrash out an acceptable compensation package for the owners of about 980 properties to be affected in the road-widening for the 20 km., 100-ft corridor.

While the structures will be paid compensation as per the rates prescribed by the Central Public Works Department duly taking depreciation into consideration, it is the acquisition of the land that might prove tricky.

Those losing land will be given permission for deviation in norms for taking up construction.

To give more leeway to those losing land, the GVMC officials also plan to issue of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).

The TDR is transferable by the person whose land was taken to another person -- either in the same locality or in a different part of the city. The value of the TDR will come down proportionately depending upon the area. With the GO 678 making 10 per cent of built up space mandatory (liable for confiscation in case of violation), issue of TDR will benefit those losing their entire land as they can sell it to someone in a prime area, says an official.

Once the issue is decided upon, it will pave the way for calling of tenders for work on the corridor.

The BRTS is proposed as a safe and rapid means of urban transportation on dedicated corridors.

Two corridors are proposed at a total cost of Rs. 452.93 crores under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

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