Godrej moves HC over acquisition of land for bullet train

MUMBAI: The Godrej Group, Mumbai's biggest private land owner, has petitioned the Bombay high court to shift the alignment of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project by a few hundred metres to the east. The company is in court against the state's move to acquire ten acres of its prime Vikhroli land.
The company is opposing a notice issued earlier this year by the collector's office for acquisition of the open parcel of land which lies to the west of the Eastern Express Highway. The cost of the land, say property experts, could be Rs 200 crore, and its development potential worth much more.

Godrej suggested a re-alignment of the route and is offering alternate land. The company is said to have now offered land on the eastern side of the highway, whose viability is yet to be ascertained. Whether the alternate site has mangroves and falls under coastal regulation zone (CRZ) will be considered. If realigned, the land currently being eyed by the government will be open for development by Godrej.

It is learned that National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a joint venture of the government of India and participating state governments for implementing the bullet train project, will first assess the feasibility of the alternate plot and verify if it falls in CRZ area or has any other impediments. The Japan-backed high-speed train project will traverse a length of over 500km from Bandra Kurla Complex to Sabarmati railway station in Ahmedabad.

Adi Godrej, when contacted by TOI, politely expressed his "inability" to speak on the matter.

Godrej first moved the HC during the summer vacation. The vacation bench, had on May 21, restrained the NHSRCL against taking any coercive steps, without informing the company in writing. Action of the corporation and government will be subject to further orders, it said.

The petition is filed against the state, Centre, deputy collector (land acquisition), NHSRCL, Roshan Master, Smita Crishnan, Maneck, Engineer, Kymas Palia and Fali Sarkari. The law invoked is Right to fair compensation & transperancy in land acquisition, rehabilitation & resettlement Act of 2013.

The matter came up for hearing in June when advocate T J Pandian, counsel for the railways, submitted that a proposal of alternate land was expected from Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing company. Both sides sought six weeks to consider such a proposal. The HC bench of Justices Naresh Patil and Girish Kulkarni thus adjourned it to July 31.

The corporation and railway ministry will consider "all viability'' before agreeing to any alternate plot. The viability is yet to be considered. What has to also be seen whether there are mangroves and whether it is suitable for the project.

The Mumbai suburban collector office had written to the landowner, Godrej Group, in March. It was believed to be the last of the acquisitions in the city. Maharashtra has 150km of the proposed bullet train route, Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has 2km, while the remainder is in Gujarat.

BULLET TRAIN GO-SLOW?

The project cost: Approx. $16 billion

Deadline: August 2022

Stations: 12 Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar in Maharashtra, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati