Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set up a 13-member special cell to speed up work of the Chandani Chowk flyover. The work is stuck as land acquisition for the project has almost come to a halt.

Satish Kulkarni, Deputy Commissioner of PMC’s Land Acquisition Department, said, “The cell will handle issues related to land acquisition of the flyover. The cell will start functioning from February 3.”

District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat had performed ‘bhoomipujan’ of the project on August 27 at Chandani Chowk. Later, the PMC started conducting meetings with land owners. So far, it has acquired only two hectares of land out of the required 14 hectares. Most of the land owners are demanding cash compensation instead of other modes of compensation such as Transfer Development Rights (TDRs) and Floor Space Index (FSI).

The civic administration had conducted a survey of properties in Kothrud and Bavdhan, which will be demolished to construct service roads and bridges. Along with residential complexes, bungalows and commercial places will have to be demolished. Some open plots will also be acquired.

Cash compensation will be given to land owners and residents of 85 houses. Earlier, the PMC had estimated Rs 120 crore as the compensation amount, but some people have agreed to take the FSI option. So, the cost has reduced from Rs 120 crore to Rs 88 crore.

Traffic congestion at Chandani Chowk is a long pending issue and the PMC had made a plan of around Rs 200 crore during the NCP regime. The plan was eventually approved by Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at a cost of around Rs 400 crore, inclusive of an underpass, a flyover and a service road. The plan aims for  a signal-free road and minimum disturbance to NH 4.

As per a tri-party agreement in 2015, the PMC would provide land to NHAI for the project. NHAI divided the project in two phases so that the PMC gets time to acquire land. However, it requires at least 5.50 hectares of land to start the project.