Andhra Minister Issues Land Acquisition Warning for Capital Road Project
Vijayawada: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana has issued a stern warning to farmers, stating that the state government will be compelled to enforce the Land Acquisition Act if they do not voluntarily participate in the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) for the completion of the crucial seed access road in the capital region.
Critical Land Issue Threatens Project Timeline
During an inspection of the ongoing steel bridge construction across the Buckingham Canal near Undavalli on Friday, Minister Narayana revealed that approximately 4.5 acres of land remain pending for acquisition in the stretch connecting the seed access road to the Mangalagiri road. This section forms an essential component of the Seed Axis Road project, which is being developed at an accelerated pace to enhance connectivity throughout the Amaravati capital region.
"We are appealing to the farmers even now to cooperate with the land pooling process," Narayana emphasized to media representatives. "We decided to wait for another month before taking a final decision."
April 9 Deadline Set for Voluntary Cooperation
The minister made it unequivocally clear that authorities will initiate formal land acquisition procedures if farmers owning the remaining 4.5 acres do not come forward for land pooling by April 9. This decisive action aims to ensure that the vital infrastructure project progresses without further delays, as the government has already extended considerable patience in seeking voluntary participation.
Narayana explained that while the government possesses the legal authority to proceed with compulsory land acquisition immediately, they have chosen to provide farmers with this additional month-long window as a final opportunity for cooperative resolution through the Land Pooling Scheme.
Steel Bridge Construction Progressing Rapidly
Regarding the ongoing construction, the minister reported that work on the steel bridge across the Buckingham Canal is advancing swiftly. Contracting agencies have assured the government that these particular works will reach completion by the end of this month, marking a significant milestone for the overall project.
Furthermore, Narayana detailed that two additional steel bridges are planned following the Buckingham Canal section:
- One bridge spanning the Guntur channel
- Another crossing the Kondaveeti Vagu
The completion of these three bridges will effectively finalize the entire seed access road project, dramatically improving transportation infrastructure and connectivity throughout the Amaravati capital region.
BITS Pilani Campus Development Along Seed Access Road
In related development news, representatives from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani met with Minister Narayana to present architectural designs and development plans for their proposed campus in Amaravati. The institution plans to construct its campus on approximately 70 acres of land along the seed access road, strategically located between Mandadam and Venkatapalem.
The BITS Pilani campus will be developed in three distinct phases as an advanced AI+ campus featuring modern academic and research facilities. Representatives informed the minister that the first phase of construction would be completed within approximately 2.5 years, making the campus ready to commence student admissions at that time.
This educational institution development represents another significant component of the capital region's growth, complementing the transportation infrastructure improvements facilitated by the seed access road project.
