Thousands of East London families who have made homes for themselves in various residential areas close to the proposed East London bypass road between the N2 and R72 will have to move if and when the major project is launched in the near future.
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana told the Saturday Dispatch yesterday that although a new detailed feasibility study was yet to be completed, residents from Amalinda, Duncan Village, Buffalo Flats and areas surrounding the East London Airport would “be affected”.
Ncunyana said BCM had made available R9-million to the South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) for a new feasibility study to be done as the one completed in 2004 was “old”.
The development has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years and was put on ice as BCM could not afford to implement it.
But now BCM has roped in Sanral to rescue the dream, which is part of a larger plan to develop the West Bank, and at the same time alleviate traffic congestion in the CBD.
Ncunyana said: “At this stage it is still early days as we are yet to do the route determination but obviously Amalinda, Duncan Village, and Buffalo Flats will be affected.
“And depending on the side of the airport we will use, Orange Grove and Greenfields might also be affected.”
The crisis of illegal land invasion is however causing a headache for the metro, as residents continue to build shacks in certain areas proposed for the route.
Concerned ward councillor for Amalinda, Monwabisi Mahodi, said BCM would be forced to remove more than 500 families in East Bank, who had “illegally built shacks” there since last year.
In his report tabled before council last month, Ncunyana said the cost of procuring the required land and the possible removal by the municipality of the homes along the proposed route would only be known once a review of the route had been completed.
“The new study should be able to give us details of whether Duncan Village proper or Ziphunzana will be affected. If it is low-cost houses that will be affected, then we will have to re-build houses. But if it is private land we will just buy the land. Our action will be determined by the type of land we will be acquiring,” Ncunyana said.
Sanral’s southern region project manager Fanie van Aardt said there were still a number of issues to be addressed, the main being the significant funding commitment for the project by the different parties, and the role of each party.
“The previous studies ... will require re-evaluation to identify the route of the road, followed by detailed designs, environmental and other authorisation, land acquisition and sourcing construction materials, after which construction may commence.”
He said the design process could extend over three years and the construction process over three or four years.
Bypass a threat to homes
Thousands of East London families who have made homes for themselves in various residential areas close to the proposed East London bypass road between the N2 and R72 will have to move if and when the major project is launched in the near future.
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana told the Saturday Dispatch yesterday that although a new detailed feasibility study was yet to be completed, residents from Amalinda, Duncan Village, Buffalo Flats and areas surrounding the East London Airport would “be affected”.
Ncunyana said BCM had made available R9-million to the South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) for a new feasibility study to be done as the one completed in 2004 was “old”.
The development has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years and was put on ice as BCM could not afford to implement it.
But now BCM has roped in Sanral to rescue the dream, which is part of a larger plan to develop the West Bank, and at the same time alleviate traffic congestion in the CBD.
Ncunyana said: “At this stage it is still early days as we are yet to do the route determination but obviously Amalinda, Duncan Village, and Buffalo Flats will be affected.
“And depending on the side of the airport we will use, Orange Grove and Greenfields might also be affected.”
The crisis of illegal land invasion is however causing a headache for the metro, as residents continue to build shacks in certain areas proposed for the route.
Concerned ward councillor for Amalinda, Monwabisi Mahodi, said BCM would be forced to remove more than 500 families in East Bank, who had “illegally built shacks” there since last year.
In his report tabled before council last month, Ncunyana said the cost of procuring the required land and the possible removal by the municipality of the homes along the proposed route would only be known once a review of the route had been completed.
“The new study should be able to give us details of whether Duncan Village proper or Ziphunzana will be affected. If it is low-cost houses that will be affected, then we will have to re-build houses. But if it is private land we will just buy the land. Our action will be determined by the type of land we will be acquiring,” Ncunyana said.
Sanral’s southern region project manager Fanie van Aardt said there were still a number of issues to be addressed, the main being the significant funding commitment for the project by the different parties, and the role of each party.
“The previous studies ... will require re-evaluation to identify the route of the road, followed by detailed designs, environmental and other authorisation, land acquisition and sourcing construction materials, after which construction may commence.”
He said the design process could extend over three years and the construction process over three or four years.
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