Ankleshwar: The construction work on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway between Old Diwa and Punagam in Ankleshwar taluka resumed on Friday under police protection despite farmer protests. However, farmers from the expected villages did not turn up in large numbers to oppose the work.

The expressway work passing through villages of Ankleshwar taluka, connecting Vadodara to Mumbai, had been partially stalled due to disputes over compensation with farmers. Today, the administration restarted the construction with tight police and security arrangements. Police, health department teams, and fire brigade personnel were present at the site. Yet, farmers from Diwa village, who were expected to protest, did not appear due to unknown reasons, providing relief to the authorities and allowing the partial work to proceed smoothly.

Once this segment of work is completed, the expressway is likely to become operational till Surat, as the unfinished stretch is just about half a kilometer near Punagam and Old Diwa villages, just after crossing the Narmada River while going from Bharuch to Ankleshwar. Work on this section has been halted for over two and a half years due to unresolved compensation issues between the government and the farmers.

It is noteworthy that land acquisition for this project has been completed in 32 villages of Bharuch district, including Amod, Vagra, Ankleshwar, and Hansot. Most farmers have cooperated by handing over land for highway construction against the previously agreed compensation of Rs 350 to Rs 400 per square meter. However, farmers from Punagam and Old Diwa have refused to accept this compensation. The dispute is currently pending in the district court.

Farmers argue that landowners in Valsad, Navsari, and Bardoli received compensation between Rs 800 and Rs 900 per square meter, and Bharuch district farmers deserve the same. They claim that after their representation, an arbitrator fixed the rate for Punagam and Old Diwa farmers at Rs 952 per square meter. However, the National Highway Authority of India has challenged this rate in court, which has led to the halt in work. DeshGujarat