Bullet train project's land acquisition set to finish by end of March

Officials have indicated that the Centre aims to finalize land acquisition for the Rs 1 trillion bullet train project by the end of this month. It has been disclosed that the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra has instructed all district collectors in the state to hand over land for the project within the adjusted timeline. Furthermore, they mentioned that the work on shifting transmission lines should also be concluded by the end of March 2024. The bullet train project encompasses areas in Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra. In Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the process of land acquisition and possession has been successfully completed. However, in Maharashtra, over 15% of the total land required is yet to be transferred to the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL). The land acquired amounts to 959.04 hectares in Gujarat and 430.45 hectares in Maharashtra. The NHSRCL, functioning as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), has 50% equity from the Railways Ministry and 25% each from the Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments. Apart from land acquisition, the prompt completion of power transmission line shifting is crucial to meet the revised project timelines. Gujarat has made significant progress by completing the shifting of 1333 infringing lines. In Maharashtra, there are 318 infringing lines, of which approximately 300 have been dealt with so far. According to a senior official, the remaining transmission lines in Maharashtra will also be relocated by the end of March 2024. The project has obtained approvals for activities such as forest, wildlife, and mangroves cutting, in addition to tree cutting.