The severely delayed Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) has received a significant boost with the government issuing a notification to acquire nearly 31,000 square meters of land near Devanahalli. This land will be used to set up a primary depot for the Majestic-Devanahalli corridor, also known as the Sampige Line (Corridor-1).
Land Acquisition Details
The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) issued a preliminary notification last week to acquire land from five villages, including Devanahalli. The notification specifies that K-Ride, the nodal agency for the project, will develop the depot. The land parcels identified for acquisition include 14,000 square meters in Akkupet, 7,340 square meters in Sanna Amanikere, 6,969 square meters in Hireamanikere, 1,504 square meters in Upparahalli, and 1,100 square meters in Devanahalli.
Properties and Restrictions
Approximately 50 properties stand on these parcels, most of which are owned by private individuals. The National Highways Authority and the state government also own some portions. The notification imposes a ban on the sale, lease, mortgage, or transfer of the notified land without prior permission from KIADB's special land acquisition officer, who is the competent authority in this case. Construction and development activities have also been restricted. Landowners have been warned not to obstruct or create hurdles for government officials entering the notified properties.
Compensation and Industrial Area Declaration
Compensation will be based on the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, along with relevant sections of the KIADB Act. In a separate notification, KIADB declared the identified land as an industrial area. Officials stated that KIADB will acquire the land and hand it over to K-Ride.
Forest Land and Additional Acquisition
A source from K-Ride revealed that about 31 acres have been identified for the facility, including 26 acres of forest land and 5 acres of government land. Forest clearance has already been obtained for the project. KIADB has also notified the acquisition of additional land to provide access to the depot.
This development marks a crucial step forward for the BSRP, which has faced numerous delays. The project aims to improve suburban rail connectivity in Bengaluru, easing congestion and providing a reliable transportation option for commuters.
