The land acquisition process for the proposed 18-km Mohali-Rajpura railway link gained momentum on Monday as Mohali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Damandeep Kaur heard suggestions and objections from landowners of Saneta, Gobindgarh, Dhelpur and Tassali villages. The authorities plan to acquire 17.72 hectares across these four villages for the Rs 443-crore project.
Landowners demand higher compensation
Former sarpanch of Saneta village, Chaudhary Bhagat Ram, along with local residents Chaudhary Rishi Pal and Didar Singh, stated they would not part with their land unless their concerns were adequately addressed. They demanded that the compensation be fixed at Rs 20 crore per acre, significantly higher than prevailing rates. Additionally, they sought proper access roads to agricultural fields and arrangements for drainage of rainwater. “The track should be moved away from the village,” the former sarpanch said.
Project details and affected villages
Of the four villages, three fall under the Mohali subdivision while the fourth is located in Banur. The total land to be acquired is 53.84 hectares for the entire project. Officials noted that the hearing is part of the mandatory process under the Land Acquisition Act before finalizing compensation packages.
The Mohali-Rajpura rail link is expected to improve connectivity in the region, reducing travel time between the two cities. However, landowners remain adamant that their livelihood and property rights must be fully safeguarded.
