In the last one month, the process of land acquisition for the upcoming Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has gained momentum with 12 villages in Palghar district, which were covered under Panchayats – Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, passing resolutions through their gram sabhas to give up land for India’s first high-speed rail corridor project.
The high-speed rail project, which is being executed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), will pass through Mumbai suburban, Thane as well as Palghar districts.
As many as 19 villages covered under Panchayats PESA Act and are tribal dominated, had earlier given their consent. Now, as many as 31 villages have agreed to give their land for the project. However, 10 villages are still opposing the project and currently, discussions are on with them.
Approximately 85 percent of the land required for the Bullet Train project has either been acquired or is being acquired.
In Vasai, nearly 2,000 tenements required for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project are spread over various buildings and chawls. Some buildings will be demolished and the tenants be provided with new homes.
In Thane and Bhiwandi talukas, about 75 acre of land was to be acquired. Of these, 42 acre have been received by the consent of the landowners. For the remaining land, there exist family or boundary disputes. But the acquisition amount has been deposited in court and they will take over the remaining land by September-end 2021 or early October 2021.
Nearly 97 percent of the land required for the project has been acquired in Gujarat for development of the project.