Compensate every project-affected person fairly

An undated photo of residents of six housing societies near Vasai station that are listed for demolition. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Residents and shopkeepers operating from six housing complexes near Vasai station are locked in battle with the Railways for better compensation. This is before the scheduled demolition of their 40-year-old homes to make way for the Borivli-Virar additional rail corridor, which will segregate outstation and express trains, a report stated in our paper.

The proposed acquisition targets six fully constructed residential and commercial buildings, and it appears to ignore the ownership rights, lawful possession and associated entitlements of residents, a resident claimed in our report.

Residents claimed that the compensation offered is entirely inadequate and does not reflect the actual market value. They claimed that if the Railways acquired this property and gave them a compensation of just R5 lakh each, their lifetime savings would become zero.

Railway officials said they would look into the matter as the land acquisition process was being undertaken in collaboration with the state government and the district collectorate.

While different agencies are working on the land acquisition process, people need to be fairly compensated if they stand to lose their homes or commercial establishments. With large-scale development on, we are bound to see more such clashes where locals will be asking for a ‘fair' price and rehabilitation.

Even demolition of the Elphinstone bridge has been halted as there are some concerns from the residents about clarity and compensation.

Locals have to be told upfront and clearly about what they are to be paid, why this figure has been arrived at and what rehabilitation will be provided. Every aspect has to be communicated transparently and with absolute clarity. Moreover, it is fairness and justice that must be the bottom line when it comes to compensation.