Surat : Hazira Villagers Rally Against Indian Railway Project

Surat : Coastal villages nestled in the industrial hub of Hazira are banding together to oppose the proposed Gothan-Hazira railway track project by Indian Railway.

Numerous villages, through which the proposed railway line is set to pass, have voiced their dissent by resisting the ongoing land survey for the Gothan-Hazira special railway acquisition, conducted by the Indian Railways and the District Inspector Land Records (DILR).

Monday saw officials from the DILR and Indian Railways embarking on a mission to measure the land of private farmers for the purpose of the Gothan-Hazira special railway acquisition, at Damka village in Hazira. However, the response they encountered was far from amicable. Affected farmers firmly conveyed to the officials that the Central Government had neglected to consult with the villagers before finalizing the proposal for the new railway track. Furthermore, the villagers issued a stern warning to the DILR and railway officials, demanding that they refrain from entering their private lands for the land survey.

The villagers’ frustration is rooted in their belief that no one should have access to their privately owned land without their explicit permission. They argued that ample government Kharland land is available adjacent to their property, and the government should use its own land for laying the railway track rather than encroaching upon private holdings.

One prominent question raised by the villagers pertains to the different treatment received by the government with regard to infrastructure development along Gujarat’s coastline. While both Central and state governments have granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approvals to construct roads along the Dumas and Daman sea coasts to promote tourism in Gujarat, they seem to be hesitant to allow a similar initiative involving railways along the Hazira coast.

Dipak Patel, leader of the Hazira Kantha Vistar Samiti, expressed the collective resolve of the villagers, saying, “We sent back the officers from the DILR and Railways without conducting any survey of our private lands. If the government resorts to any form of coercion, we will collectively demand voluntary compensation for all affected farmers from the government and the court.”