Bullet Train Project Gains Momentum As Land Acquisition In Maharashtra Likely To Be Completed By Year-End

The work on Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is set to gain pace as the land acquisition process in Maharashtra is likely to be completed by the end of 2018, ET Realty of the Economic Times has reported, quoting officials of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC).

“By December end we will be able to complete the acquisition process," the outlet quoted NHSRC Managing Director Achal Khare saying.

Khare, who was addressing a press conference in one of the 73 villages affected by the project, said that a service road would also come up along most sections of the high-speed corridor.

In the last few months, farmers and other landowners have been protesting against land acquisition for the project. Most of these protests have been reported in Maharashtra. Most of the resistance is coming from Palghar district of Maharashtra, through which about 110 km of the 508 km train corridor passes. After NHSRC officials landed in Palghar in May, over 3,000 farmers in the area started protesting against the project.

However, Khare says officials have “managed to clear” the apprehensions and misconceptions about the project in the area.

"There were apprehensions among the people that we would be acquiring 200 feet of land when the requirement is only 60 feet. We also engaged Marathi speaking officials to reach out to them and engage in conversations with them about the project and allay their concerns," he added, talking on the issue.

Khare also claimed that the people protesting against land acquisition are not those really affected by it, hinting towards the involvement of some elements with vested interests in the area.

"We have cut the involvement of middlemen and hopefully we will get the land issue sorted with their support," Khare said.