The current Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra has been sceptical about the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, while the CM Uddhav Thackeray has deemed it a “white elephant”. Taking these factors into account, the general consensus among the ministry was that this project will most likely not go through.
However, The Indian Express has uncovered details on the government’s plans to acquire land at Palghar for this high-speed train project, indicating that the project is moving forward as planned. As per the agreement between the Railways and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Gujarat and Maharashtra state governments were required to invest in the form of land acquisition. This ambitious project is estimated to cost around Rs 1.1 lakh crore.
Additionally, towards the end of June, District Administration officials closed in on a draft for the resettlement and rehabilitation of 2,177 families that would be impacted by the project after its completion.
The rehabilitation plan was drafted by Palghar district collector Dr Kailash Shinde who is also the chairman of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Committee set in place under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR) of 2013. The plan was shared with five local MLAs, a local Member of Parliament (MP), as well as 33 sarpanches among others from the villages that will be affected by this bullet-train project. They have been asked to submit a response or objections to the proposal by July 5.
“The rehabilitation and resettlement plan has to be prepared within one year of publication of the notice for land acquisition. It was published in August last year. The components of the plan, houses that will be affected, compensation to be given were discussed in the meeting with the members of the committee,” Shinde added while speaking to The Indian Express.
Read - CM Thackeray Hints At Roadblocks For Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Project
As for the rehabilitation plan for those who currently live in these lands, the authorities will provide either Rs 1.65 lakh or a home built under the Indira Awas Yojana. Those who lose a home in urban areas of the proposed railway path will receive Rs 5.5 lakh or a 50 Sq.m home as per the rules of the local Public Works Department (PWD).
Additional benefits include a one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh to affected families with an employable person while Rs 50,000 will be provided as transportation or relocation expenses.
Those with a small shop or animal shed will get Rs 25,000 as financial assistance while artisans and small businesses will receive Rs 50,000. There will also be a one-time restoration allowance of Rs 50,000 after the affected families have relocated to a new house.
This will be in addition to Rs 3,000 per month provided as a subsistence allowance for families per year. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families will get an additional Rs 1 lakh for relocation.
The authorities added that slums in Vasai that don’t have property details or ownership of the house will also receive a one-time payment for relocation.
Also read - Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Fare To Be Around ₹3000
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