The acquisition of about 40,000 sq. metre of land in Laxmi Vilas Palace from the Royal family has set the ball rolling for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).

Sources said there are chances that files of some of the pending projects, which could not take off due to land acquisition related issues, will be re-considered for execution.

On Monday, VMC demolished the compound wall of Laxmi Vilas palace and acquired the land. The land will now be part of the Lalbaugh Rail Over Bridge project.

Top VMC officials said the only hurdle in this regard will be the land price parity. Sources said while the government has decided to give Rs 6.25 crore for the acquired land, the royal family is apparently demanding Rs 125 crore, though this has not been confirmed yet.

“It was a major breakthrough for us. We had been waiting for this opportunity for long. Now that the state government has taken interest, we would like to initiate some of the major projects, which were put on hold due to land problems. If things go in right direction, we will come up with a proposal very soon,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

The official said the road project, which was aimed to connect Dandia Bazaar and Akota, may be revived. “The project was shelved after the Royal Family refused to hand over the land. The officials had tried to convince the Gaekwads that the road, connecting Dandia Bazar and Akota, will ease traffic problems in the station area. At present, there is only one road between the railway station and western part of the city. This results in major chaos in Kalaghoda and Alkapuri underpass. But somehow they were not positive about it,” he added.

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