Paradip, June 20: Land acquisition work for the World Bank-funded Cuttack-Chandballi state highway project has finally picked up pace.

Landowners from 12 nearby villages have come forward to receive compensation as their lands have been acquired for double-laning the highway. The government has taken possession of the land by paying compensation according to the provisions of the Orissa Land Acquisition Act.

Besides, the highway-side government land in nine other revenue villages had come under acquisition for the project, said officials.

The Rs 380-crore project, which envisages widening the circuitous 115km long highway, is widely regarded as the lifeline for people in Kendrapara district. World Bank funds for the project were lying unused for about three years. Delay in relaying of the road connectivity had triggered large-scale public resentment in these parts of the state.

“The process to acquire private land in over fifty more villages is now on in full swing. Notices under sections 4(1), 6(1) and 7(1) of the Orissa Land Acquisition Act have been issued to landholders. Earlier, things had been delayed for certain factors which were beyond our control. Nearly one-third patch of the required land has now been acquired. The acquisition drive has so far been resistance-free,” said Gopal Krushna Nayak, special land acquisitions officer.

“We are ready with Rs 15 crore for disbursal of compensation to land losers. The land acquisition exercise is being executed expeditiously. Barring some patches, where there are some places of worship, the process is going on without any obstruction,” said Pradipta Kishore Pattnaik, collector of Kendrapara.

The state endowment commissioner had been apprised of the situation of highway-side places of worship. After ownership details were provided to us, the patches of land would also be acquired, he added.

The much-awaited road project was set for completion by the end of 2008-09 fiscal. A series of high-level meetings were convened to expedite the project. But things had hardly moved in the right direction.

“Work for laying of the road has already commenced along the patches of the highway-side land that has already been handed over to us. We are waiting for the handover of the rest of the land so that road-laying and widening work could be expedited further,” said Kishore Kumar Nayak, executive engineer, roads and buildings division.

Double-laning of the 115-km long busy state highway, which traverses through the districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara, and Bhadrak, is being taken up under the World Bank funded Orissa State Road Project scheme. Its completion would reduce the road distance between Paradip Port and Calcutta. Besides, it would also restore good road connectivity with the famous Bhitarkanika National Park.

Over 75 per cent land acquisition was complete in Bhadrak and Cuttack districts. About 35 per cent of the acquisition of remaining land required for double-laning in Kendrapara district was also complete.

“A World Bank team has conducted an extensive survey on the project’s possible impact on livelihood stakes, environment and ecology. Some permanent constructions, multi-storied buildings and places of worships are coming in the way of land acquisition in Salipur area of Cuttack district. But, it will be sorted out,” Nayak said.