Court Paves Way For “One-Of-Its-Kind” Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is of “national importance and in the public interest,” according to the Bombay High Court, which dismissed a petition by the Godrej & Boyce company challenging the Maharashtra government’s and NHSRCL’s acquisition proceedings in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area for the project.

The project is unique, according to a division bench of Justices R D Dhanuka and M M Sathaye, and the public good would triumph over individual interests.

About 21 km of the 508.17 km of rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad are expected to be underground. The property near Vikhroli is where one of the tunnel’s entrances is located (owned by Godrej).

The corporation was accused of delaying the entire project, which was crucial for the public, according to the state government and the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

The acquisition process for the whole line for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was finished, according to the authorities, with the exception of the land owned by Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited in the Vikhroli area.

Since 2019, the government and the corporation have been involved in a legal battle over who would own the property in Mumbai’s Vikhroli neighbourhood that will be used for the bullet train project.

The 264 crore compensation sum awarded to the corporation in October of last year has already been deposited, the state government had previously informed the court.

The corporation had previously asked the HC to order the state government not to move further with the award that had already been passed and to begin possession procedures.

It stated that the government’s award was “ex facie illegitimate and so a nullity.” Additionally, it debunked the government’s and NHSRCL’s claims that the corporation was forcing the project to move too slowly.

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