Bombay HC paves way for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project

The court dismissed a petition filed by Godrej & Boyce company challenging acquisition proceedings initiated by the Maharashtra government and the NHSRCL in Mumbai's Vikhroli area for the project

The Bombay High Court on Thursday said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is of "national importance and in the public interest", and dismissed a petition filed by Godrej & Boyce company challenging acquisition proceedings initiated by the Maharashtra government and the NHSRCL in Mumbai's Vikhroli area for the project.

A division bench of Justices R.D. Dhanuka and M.M. Sathaye said the project was one-of-its-kind and collective interest would prevail over private interest.

Of the total 508.17 kilometers of rail track between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, about 21 km is planned to be underground. One of the entry points to the underground tunnel falls on the land in Vikhroli (owned by Godrej).

The State government and the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) had claimed the company was delaying the entire project which was of public importance.

The authorities had told the HC that the acquisition process of the entire line for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was complete except for the land owned by Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited in Vikhroli area.

The company and the government have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the acquisition of company-owned land in Vikhroli area of Mumbai for the bullet train project since 2019.

The State government had earlier informed the court that it has already deposited the ₹264 crore compensation amount awarded to the company in October last year.