YAMUNA EXPRESSWAY A REAL PUBLIC INTEREST

The corridor is to be made tourist attraction of Taj Mahal at Agra through the new 6 Lanes (extendable to 8 lanes) Access controlled Expressway with brand name of Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway).It is well thought that that time of travel to Agra will be reduced to 100 minutes on proposed 165Km stretch.

For implementing the Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway) Project and allied development in the region, GOUP constituted Taj Expressway Industrial Development Authority (TEA) vide its Notification No.697/77-4-2001-3 (N)/2001 dated 24th April, 2001, under U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976 (U.P. Act No.6 of 1976).  The main responsibilities of TEA, inter alia, included :

    * Execution of Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway).
    * Acquisition of land for construction of Expressway and area development.
    * Preparation of Zonal plan/Master plan for planned development along the Expressway.
    * Development of drainage, feeder roads, electrification and other facilities in the area.

It is to have right of way 100M and number of lanes 6 extentdable upto 8 lanes, 7 interchanges, 35 underpass etc. The project is projected as development engine for the region but other side of the development of the corridor is ruining of thousands of acres of highly fertile land under the actual ROW of the road as well as the other chunks of precious land under cultivation is to be given to developer for development of housing projects/townships/projects. The interesting fact is the developer is giving more emphasis to his own project

rather than development of the highway. We need to think seriously on the fact that in a developing country like India can we afford a highway with such huge wastage of natural resources. The alluvial earth being used for the land filling is also further adding to the sad face of highway development.

Can not we develop as road which is purely elevated on piers/columns if really it is meant for the public interest. If the road is developed as an elevated there will be almost reduction of 90% wastage of fertile land.

It seems that on the name of public interest the land is being forcebly taken from the poor farmers and they are being forced to evecuate from the cultivated land. With the tag of public interest the highly precious land and soil is being lost by uttar pradesh. If we have to make India really a developed nation there is an urgent need to avoid any wastage of natural resources. The depleting layer of fertile land on the name of development and public interest should cause worry to the town planners and development experts. 

The other side of the story is that the land is being taken at rock bottom rates from the farmers by the so called Yamuna Expressway Authoirty and the developer is publicising his development projects with the luxury brand at much higher rates. Even the projects have been earmarked by the developers and booking of the same has been started with investment of crores of rupees.

This is high time if to think again, is it really in public interest or way to support interest of the developer?