MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Tuesday concluded the hearing in a petition filed by Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd that challenged as a “nullity’’ an award passed in September 2022 for acquisition of its 10 acre plot at Vikhroli for the ambitious public project, the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project that’s estimated to cost Rs 1 lakh crore. The HC bench of Justices R D Dhanuka and MM Sathaye reserved it for orders.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh for the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd and the Central government opposing the plea had pointed to the public utility of the project and submitted the corporation’s affidavit saying, “due to long pending issue of acquisition of the (company’s) land the NHSRCL has had to cancel tenders relating to the underground tunneling works on two occasions (in the year 2019 and 2021) which resulted in cost escalation by at least Rs 1000 crore (as is evident in the tenders floated in year 2022).'' Teh affidavit was filed by UP Singh, Chief project Manager, NHSRCL.
