Disgruntled farmers block the Viraar‑Alibag corridor over low compensation.

Bullet train gets 11 lakh, we only get 4 lakh per acre, farmers accuse, fear of road closure to fields

City News Mumbai/Gani Khan

Farmers from Bhivandi taluka, upset over low compensation for land acquisition for the Virar‑Alibaug multimodal corridor, staged a “chakka jam” protest on the Bhivandi‑Vasai route in Khara Baw on Tuesday.

The jam lasted about two hours, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the Bhivandi‑Vasai highway and heavy traffic congestion. During this time, the farmers expressed anger, accusing discrimination.

The farmers allege that the bullet train project passing through the same area is receiving compensation of 11 lakh rupees per acre, while the Virar‑Alibaug corridor is receiving only 4 lakh rupees per acre.

They say that after the corridor is built, there will be no way to reach the fields on the other side.

Diipali Kaathe asked, “Why are there two different rates for two projects in the same village?” Harshil Patil of the organization warned, “If our demands are not met, the farmers here will not give even an inch of land for this project.” This has caused heavy outrage among the farmers. In this chakka jam movement of local landholders and farmers in Khara Baw, the sarpanch Mahendra Patil, Vasant Patil, Sumit Suresh Mhatré, Harshil Patil, Diipali Kaathe, Manoj Mhatré, Bala Patil, Ashok Palkar, Ramesh Karbhari, Sunil Chavan, along with a large number of villagers, landholders, and women, participated.

Farmers’ demands

- Compensation of 11 lakh per acre, just like the bullet train.

- A separate path, underpass, or service road to reach the fields across the corridor.