Land acquisition begins for Pune-Nashik Semi High Speed Rail project

Pune, India (Urban Transport News): The district administration of Pune has commenced the process for land acquisition for the proposed  235.15km Pune-Nashik semi high-speed Rail Corridor at the beginning of this year and the first purchase deed of the entire project was completed on January 8, 2022.

"The district collectorate has received proposals for land acquisition in 12 villages under Haveli tehsil while the land measurement has been completed in eight villages while in two villages it has been partially done," informed Rohini Akhade-Phadtare, deputy collector of Pune.

According to him, the first land acquisition deed was from Haveli tehsil. District Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh facilitated Chandrakant Gangaram Kolte and Smita Kolte who provided land in Perne village for the project.

“This project is important for agricultural products transport, freight and passenger transport in Pune and Nashik districts and a similar initiative of farmers is required to speed up the project. The message that farmers are getting proper compensation for their land will be conveyed through this first purchase,” said Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, District Collector.

The Maharashtra government is offering five times the rate of ready reckoner for acquiring land from owners while two and a half times the assessment amount will be paid for the building as well as other constructions.

A special purpose vehicle Maharashtra Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (Maha-Rail) has been given the responsibility to implement this long-awaited semi-high speed railway line. Maha Rail is a joint venture of the Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Railways (under the Government of India).

The Pune-Nashik Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor will pass through Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts. It covers a total of 54 villages in four talukas of Pune district namely Haveli, Khed, Ambegaon and Junnar.

The stations in Pune district is Hadapsar, Manjari, Wagholi, Alandi, Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Manchar, Narayangaon, Alephata. Among the major stations, Chakan, Manchar and Narayangaon will be agricultural production and private freight terminals and Rajgurunagar station will be for passenger traffic only.

Once the land acquisition process is completed and approval is received from the central government, construction of the corridor will be commenced. The estimated cost of the Pune-Nashik Semi High-Speed Rail project is Rs 16,039 crore. The revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of this project was approved by the Indian Railways in February 2020.