Former 450 Year Road residents urged to collect compensation
Local residents yet to collect compensation for land they lost to the 450 Year Road project have until October 31 to collect their money from the Vientiane Natural Resources and Environment Department.
Department officials said about half of the people to whom money was owed were yet to claim their compensation as of yesterday when the announcement was made.
Compensation has been offered for 386 parcels of land since the road was built at the end of 2010, yet many villagers affected by the development are yet to come forward.
A department official said those who are eligible for compensation were from Xaysettha, Hadxaifong and Xaythany districts.
The 20km road was built under the government's policy to convert land into capital. An area of land 50 metres wide along either side of the road was put up for sale to cover the US$80 million construction cost. It was from this area that residents were required to relocate.
The compensation offered varies according to location and terrain. Some plots are valued at 20,000 kip per square metre, while others are worth up to 2.5 million kip per square metre. Low lying land that has no path or road access is awarded less compensation, department officials explained. The compensation package totals more than US$15 million.
Also announced yesterday was the Vientiane authorities' policy to offer the affected villagers first right of refusal on the 50m land reserves, before they are put on the open market for sale next month.
Depending on the location and condition of the land, plots will be sold back to them at prices ranging from US$120 to US$150 per square metre.
Some people have already bought back their parcels of land, at a cost of more than 40 billion kip in total.
The 450 Year Road was one of 21 projects undertaken to mark the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital, and to reduce traffic congestion. The road cuts 7km off the existing journey between Dongdok and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. Motorists can save time and money by using the road, which bypasses the capital's urban centre. Construction of the concrete road began in 2008.
