Greater Ranchi project is likely to overcome its first hurdle in next few days as the Ranchi district administration is on the verge of completing the task of land identification which was assigned by Chief Minister Raghubar Das. The CM had asked for demarcating lands for the project.
Notably, the CM on two occasions had visited Sukurhuttu, Marlsiring in Kanke Block and Hardag, Dundu, Tupudana (all along Ranchi-Khunti Road), Kharisdag, Dungri, Uoaunghatu (near Ring Road) and Khatanga in Namkum. “We are preparing land schedules of areas which were visited by CM and will also demarcate the area to ensure availability of land for the project. land schedules will be completed within two-three days,” said Ranchi DC Manoj Kumar.
Incidentally, the earmarking is also being done with the intent to keep government land ready in case the government has to lease out land to industry or institutions that want to set up base in Ranchi and its adjoining areas. The earmarking of government land will be done by putting up a marker either in the shape of pole or decided by the competent authority so as to avoid confusion among and controversy in case of leasing out land to institutions.
Meanwhile, route to Greater Ranchi needs to go through several tests and areas close to Airport are likely to be dropped from list due to regulations related to construction activities near such sensitive areas. like the concerns of the existing capital, Greater Ranchi is unlikely to come up in areas scarce in water supply and bottlenecks in connecting the new capital with reservoirs. It is for ensuring continuous supply of water for the new capital and host of other establishments set to come along with it.
Nonetheless, a highly placed source confided that the plan is still in nascent stage and no decision has been taken yet for the ambitious project that has been in files since 2002. “No. As of now there is no concrete progress on this,” said the source. The decision on the new capital is the sole responsibility of Greater Ranchi Development Authority headed by the CM which includes one Managing Director besides five directors in the board. Significantly, the CM in GRDA’s meeting had expressed that the new capital should be patterned on some of the best planned townships like Chandigarh and New Raipur. However, no team has been constituted so far to study the prospects of developing Greater Ranchi on some of the best planned cities.