In a noteworthy development, five farmers from Surat district have filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court, asking for their agricultural land to be acquired for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project. This shift in stance comes six years after initial protests by over 1,000 farmers in Gujarat who opposed the land acquisition for the same project. Now, these farmers, hailing from Antroli village, are seeking inclusion in the process, driven by the allure of significant compensation.
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) had issued a notification earlier this year to purchase non-agricultural (NA) land in Antroli village to restore pasture land (gauchar) affected by the bullet train project. However, the petitioners—Dinesh Lukhi, Nilesh Lukhi, Keshav Goti, Jayesh Patel, and Piyush Kheni—argue that acquiring agricultural land adjacent to the gauchar would be a more cost-effective solution. According to their claims, the acquisition of NA land would cost the public exchequer 1.5 times more than agricultural land.
The farmers’ request spotlights a broader issue regarding resource allocation in large-scale infrastructure projects. Their petition challenges the financial prudence of acquiring expensive NA land when agricultural land is available. The petitioners are calling for a reassessment of the NHSRCL’s decision, advocating for a more economical and fair approach to the acquisition process, which they claim would save public funds and benefit the farmers.
This case reflects the evolving complexities of land acquisition in India, where initial resistance to infrastructure projects often shifts to active participation when the economic benefits become clear. The compensation factor has emerged as a driving force for many farmers, prompting them to seek inclusion rather than exclusion. The Gujarat High Court’s verdict on this matter could set a precedent for future land acquisition processes and influence how public resources are managed in infrastructure projects.
