Title - : Compensation fixed at Rs.52 lakh for a cent

MG Road to be widened to 22 metres.Landowners surrendering their holdings for widening of city roads as part of the preparatory works for the Kochi metro rail project will be given Rs.52 lakh a cent as land value. The value of the land was decided at a meeting of the land owners that was convened by the District Collector on FridayCompensation will be provided for buildings that will have to be completely demolished at the rate fixed by the Public Works Department. The landowners will be given 80 per cent of the land value on signing the consent letter. They will be allotted four months for vacating the building. Demolition will begin as soon as the buildings are vacated, said a communication from the district administration. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will demolish the buildings using modern equipment.The Banerji and MG Roads will be widened to a width of 22 metres and the road stretch between Jose Junction and South Railway Station Road to a width of 18 metres. The road development project would require 56.25 cent on Banerji Road, nine cents on MG Road and 37.5 cent at Ernakulam South.On Banerji Road, 15 buildings have to be demolished completely and 13 others partially. The widening scheme will result in the complete demolition of 14 buildings on MG Road and compensation will be awarded to 33 land owners there.

The district administration will approach the State government with a request for providing concessions on Floor Area Ratio for the buildings that will have to be reconstructed following the surrendering of holdings for the project. Requests for providing exemptions on registration charges and stamp duty will also be submitted to the State government, the communication said.

A rehabilitation package will be prepared for those who may lose livelihood options, District Collector P.I. Sheik Pareeth said.