TDR scheme for widening roads

KOCHI: The state government has decided to implement the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scheme to speed up the land acquisition of various road development projects in the state.The scheme will be used for the first time in the state to acquire land for the widening of the Thammanam-Pulleppady Road.The TDR scheme has already been used successfully in metros like Delhi and Chennai for various infrastructure projects.The TDR is the tool developed for acquisition of land for roads and other public infrastructure projects through which the government is able to compensate the owners for the property acquired without actually having to pay the market price for the acquired land.On completion of the transaction, the land becomes government property to be utilised for the purpose for which it is acquired.“Under this scheme the biggest benefit that the land owner gets is that the compensation is based on the  market price,” said a senior town planner. “And it  is not based on archaic and imaginary government registration prices,” he added.TDR sheme is also an effective governing tool that make zoning more politically feasible,” the town planner said.The widening of the Thammanam-Pulleppady road will play a crucial role in easing traffic congestion that will arise out of the demolition of the North Rail Over Bridge (RoB), for renovation, in connection with the proposed Metro Rail project.The 3.4 km-long Thammanam-Pulleppady Road will be widened to 22 metres.  Though a total of Rs 22 crore has already been allocated under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the project was at a standstill owing to the huge funds required for the acquisition of land.The Town Planning Department of the Kochi Corporation has already completed the assessment of the total area of land to be acquired in the area.As per the initial assessment, the cost for acquiring land for widening Thammanam-Pulleppady Road is estimated at Rs 171 crore.  But under the TDR scheme, the cost could be reduced by 50 per cent.