Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet prepare challenge: Rs 264 cr compensation a fraction of quantity provided earlier, says Godrej & Boyce

Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co, the flagship firm of the Mumbai-based Godrej Group, has informed the Bombay Excessive Courtroom in an affidavit that the Rs 264 crore given as ultimate compensation for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet prepare challenge is a fraction of the preliminary quantity of Rs 572 crore provided earlier. “There’s non-application of thoughts whereas assessing the truthful market worth of the land in query,” the corporate’s affidavit learn. 

Whereas refuting the Maharashtra authorities and Nationwide Excessive Velocity Rail Company Ltd’s (NHSRCL) allegations of inflicting undue hurdles within the land acquisition course of, the corporate referred to as the Maharashtra authorities’s land acquisition proceedings in opposition to it “unhealthy in legislation”. 

“That is demonstrably false and the document clearly establishes that any substantial delay is attributable solely to the respondents (state and NHSRCL). It was the respondents who grossly delayed the acquisition proceedings,” the affidavit famous. 

It additionally referred to as the award granted by the state authorities ”ex-facie unlawful and therefore a nullity.” The matter got here up earlier than a division bench comprising Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Sharmila Deshmukh on Thursday and has been adjourned until November 21. 

It additionally claimed there have been “a number of and patent illegalities” within the course of. The corporate additionally stated the state authorities and the NHSRCL delayed the acquisition proceedings. Citing the Truthful Compensation Act, the affidavit acknowledged that no report outlining the price of land acquisition was ready. 

Godrej & Boyce submitted its affidavit in reply to the affidavits of the Maharashtra authorities and NHSRCL, difficult a September 15 Maharashtra authorities order awarding compensation to it for land acquisition for the challenge. 

The corporate additionally submitted a petition difficult the state authorities and the NHSRCL, each of whom opposed it. The corporate sought that the Excessive Courtroom directs the state authorities to not proceed with the award handed and initiation of possession proceedings. 

The Maharashtra authorities and Godrej & Boyce have been engaged in a authorized fracas over buying the company-owned land in Mumbai’s Vikhroli space for the bullet prepare challenge since 2019. Out of the 508.17 km rail monitor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, round 21 km is deliberate to be underground. One of many entry factors to an underground tunnel falls on the land at Vikhroli, which is owned by Godrej. 

Additionally learn: Mitsubishi wins NHSRCL contract to produce simulators for India’s first bullet prepare challenge

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