The Manmad-Dhule-Indore rail line project faces land acquisition delays in Malegaon, prompting the Railway Ministry to seek faster action. The Centre aims to extend railway connectivity to Malegaon, a city with over five lakh residents but no railway station.
Railway Ministry officials recently met the district collectors of Nashik and Dhule. They urged the administrations to accelerate land acquisition for the project.
“We encountered some hurdles in Malegaon, and the issue has been taken up with state minister Dada Bhuse,” deputy collector Ravindra Bharde said.
Manmad-Dhule-Indore rail line requires 363 hectares in Nashik
The project requires 363 hectares of land across 22 villages in Nashik district, according to officials. This includes 78 hectares across six villages in Nandgaon taluka and 282 hectares across 16 villages in Malegaon taluka.
However, land acquisition has progressed at different speeds across the two talukas. Officials said the process in Nandgaon is nearly complete.
Joint measurements, land valuation and compensation announcements have been completed there. Furthermore, authorities have started distributing compensation payments.
In Malegaon, opposition from farmers continues to delay the process. The disagreement centres on the compensation offered for acquiring agricultural land.
Farmers seek compensation closer to market rates
Local farmers argue that prevailing market rates exceed the valuations used to calculate compensation. They fear the offered amount will not allow them to purchase alternative land.
“The rates offered are not competitive. We will lose our land and will not be able to buy alternative land with this compensation,” local farmer Vilas Zambre said.
Consequently, the initial land acquisition notification expired after its one-year validity. The administration issued a fresh notification in August this year to restart the process.
Administration seeks minister’s intervention
Authorities are acquiring land under the Land Acquisition Act. The provisions provide rural landowners compensation at four times the determined valuation.
Meanwhile, urban landowners within Malegaon and Manmad municipal limits receive twice the determined valuation.
Despite these provisions, the compensation dispute remains unresolved in Malegaon. The district administration has sought assistance from state minister Dada Bhuse.
Bharde said officials would organise a series of meetings between the minister and farmers. The discussions aim to address concerns and reach an agreement on land acquisition.
The pace of these negotiations will influence the project’s land acquisition progress in Nashik district. Faster resolution could help authorities move the proposed rail connectivity project towards its next implementation stages.
