Maharashtra to acquire land for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project by September end

Mumbai, India (Urban Transport News): In a meeting recently held in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed all officers to complete the land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed bullet train project and disburse compensation to affected families by September 30, 2022. 

On 29th August 2022, Chief Minister Shinde and deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a review of all infra projects in the state in war room.

Last week, the union Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) has approved the proposal to acquire 236.85 acres of forest land in Maharashtra for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

The bullet train project is expected to gain pace and momentum in the state after the change in the government. Now with this new approval by MoEF and CC, the total land possession in Maharashtra stands at 686.95 acres approximately which is 64 percent of the total acquisition planned.

“The final approval of diversion of forest land for MAHSR project in Maharashtra state (under Forest Conservation Act 1980) has been granted by MoEF &CC," said an official from NHSRCL. “The actual possession of this forest land will come into our hand after the state government issues the notification," another official added.

Due to delay in land acquicition in Maharashtra, there is no progress in the project reported. The earlier government led by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had denied to support bullet train project in state and termed it as white elephant. MVA was not willing to part with the ground in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), which is required to set up a terminal for the bullet train project.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Bullet Train project is a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This project will cover a total distance of 508.18 km and will connect Ahmedabad to Mumbai with 12 (Elevated, underground, undersea & at the grade) stations.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Ministry of Railway, is implementing the Bullet Train projects in India. NHSRCL has recently completed 1 km length of elevated viaduct for the Bullet Train project in Gujarat.