Haryana chief secretary pushes for fast-track land acquisition for Gurugram metro

Gurugram: Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi on Friday directed senior officials from Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), the district administration, and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite land acquisition for the first phase of Gurugram metro project and prioritise the removal of utilities along the carriageway to facilitate timely construction

Gurugram: Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi on Friday directed senior officials from Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), the district administration, and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite land acquisition for the first phase of Gurugram metro project and prioritise the removal of utilities along the carriageway to facilitate timely construction.

The directions were issued during the fifth meeting of the high-powered committee on Gurugram metro, held in Chandigarh.

The directions were issued during the fifth meeting of the high-powered committee on Gurugram metro, held in Chandigarh. A senior government official said the deputy commissioner of Gurugram -- who heads the land purchase committee -- and the HSVP administrator have been asked to resolve land-related issues urgently, with no room for delay.

The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) requires around 14,000 square yards of private land in Kanhai, Islampur, and Basai for the depot, stations, and track laying. However, the acquisition process has not gathered pace for months.

A senior HSVP official said that while two landowners in Islampur and Basai have agreed to sell, several others are either reluctant, demanding high compensation, or seeking jobs in the metro in lieu of land. “Discussions are ongoing, and some have sought time before giving consent. We are trying to expedite the process,” the official said.

The chief secretary further instructed NHAI to clear obstacles between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bhardwaj Chowk. Officials said four houses in Saraswati Enclave are currently blocking construction and the matter is listed for hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 31.

A Haryana City Gas CNG station also lies in the project’s path, with the next hearing scheduled for August 24.

A senior NHAI official said efforts are on to shift an electricity substation along the metro alignment by December 31. “We are working on shifting utilities at the earliest and are trying to resolve legal issues by this month-end to enable removal of structures along the alignment,” he said, adding that a proposal for transfer of forest department land in Sector 10 has been submitted.

“For meeting deadlines, it is critical that land is acquired and utilities shifted on priority,” a senior GMRL official present in the meeting said.