Vijayawada Farmers Rally Against Outer Ring Road Land Acquisition Plans
Farmers in Vijayawada, whose agricultural lands are slated for acquisition under the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) project, have mounted a vigorous opposition to the government's expanded plans. They are demanding that compensation be calculated strictly according to prevailing open market rates, rather than the undervalued figures set by the registration department.
Arbitrary Expansion of Road Width Sparks Outrage
The core of the dispute lies in a significant revision to the project's scope. Farmers highlighted that the ORR was initially proposed with a road width of 140 metres. However, a revised gazette notification issued on January 5 unexpectedly increased this width to 250 metres. The farmers have termed this expansion "excessive and arbitrary," arguing it vastly exceeds both the original proposal and the genuine technical necessities of the infrastructure project.
Compounding their concerns are discussions about a potential 500-metre buffer zone on either side of the roadway. If implemented, this buffer could trigger large-scale acquisition of privately held, fertile agricultural land, devastating local farming communities.
Demands for Technical Review and Fair Compensation
In response, the farmers are pressing for a rollback of the plans. They demand the road width be reduced to a more reasonable 70 metres, contingent upon a proper and transparent feasibility and technical assessment.
Regarding compensation, the farmers are invoking legal provisions to secure a fair deal. They cite Section 26(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, which stipulates that compensation should be based on the highest sale value of similar land transactions in the vicinity over the three years preceding the proposal. The law fixes payment at four times this calculated land value.
However, farmer unions are advocating for an even stronger safeguard, demanding compensation at six times the land value to ensure true fairness and account for future livelihood losses. A major point of contention is the glaring disparity between the land values officially fixed by the registration department and the actual, much higher open market prices. The farmers assert that registrar values fail to reflect the true worth of their productive agricultural land and urge the government to base all calculations on real market rates.
Call for Consultation and Consent
Beyond monetary compensation, the farmers are emphasizing procedural justice. They have called on the government to hold direct consultations with affected landowners. Their firm stance is that the acquisition process should only move forward after obtaining the explicit consent of the landowners, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights protected in this major development project.
