Gandhinagar, DeshGujarat, 23 March 2013

In reply to a question in Gujarat assembly, Road and Building Minister Anandiben Patel said that in last two years, not a single inch of land has been acquired for state government’s ambitious Dholera Express way project.

Dariapur MLA Gyasuddin Sheikh asked the details of total land acquired in last two years for Dholera express way as on 15 February 2013, and total land needed to be acquired for this project. He also askedhow many farmers have objected the land acquisition process.

In her written reply, Minister Anandiben Patel said that no land has been acquired in last two years for Dholera Express highway project. The total land planned to be acquired is 12419 ha for this project. As many as 1037 farmers have objected or complained about the land acquisition for Dholera Express way.

It should be mentioned here that Dholera Express way is India’s first express way project that has been planned by any state government.

But though land acquisition is creating troubles, the state government is firmly going ahead with the project. Early this week, R&B Minister told Gujarat assembly that the state government has issued tender for Rs 1070 crore works of first 36 km construction of proposed Dholera express-way, while for the other parts of same highway project, land acquisition process is on. R&B Minister also shared the detail that the 116 km Dholera Express highway project will cost around Rs 2700 crore.