Development Above Sentiment: Gujarati NRI Lady Gives Away 11.94 Hectare Ancestral Land For Bullet Train Project

National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on Friday (30 November) acquired the first stretch in Gujarat for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project from a non-resident Indian (NRI) woman hailing from Germany, News 18 has reported.

As per the report, the NRI octogenarian Savita Ben handed over her 11.94 hectare ancestral land in Gujarat at a price of Rs 30,234.3 to the NHRSCL that is implementing India’s first high-speed bullet train project.

Ben, who shifted abroad 33 years ago after getting married, runs an Indian restaurant in Germany and is originally from Chansad village in Gujarat. She had around 71 acres (nearly 28.71 hectares) of land in Chansad area and gave 11.94 hectares to the rail authorities.

"This stretch of land is the first piece of land which we have acquired for the project in the state," NHSRCL spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar said.

The high-speed corridor which is 508 km long would require the acquisition of nearly 1,400 hectares land in Maharashtra and Gujarat, including 1,120 hectares of privately owned land. To acquire the required land, around 6,000 landowners will have to be compensated.

The land acquisition process is proving to be an uphill task for the NHSRCL as it has only managed to acquire 0.09 per cent of land for the project in Mumbai and is facing protests in both the states over the issue. Consent camps are being organised by the railways in various districts where it needs land to convince farmers for giving up their land for the project.