if you “own” a piece of land in the middle of the planned rail route, the Government will just kick you out.
That’s how the interstate system and urban highways were built. But people being displaced were mostly black and/or poor and/or immigrants, so it wasn’t seen as a bad thing at the time.
In the United States, the Constitution states that in order to take your land for this purpose, you must be compensated fairly. Of course, “fairly” in terms of market value did not amount to very much, but compensation was paid and even dilapidated housing in so-called “blighted” neighbourhoods were still worth something and the cost does add up when you’re knocking hundreds of houses down and having to pay thousands for each one.
Pretty sure China still pays out people but they don’t have any real court challenges. No court that says “do you really need this project, mathematically prove it”, “did you do x y and z study. Yes? Do it better.”, “did you have public consultation and address their concerns. Not good enough do it again.” Etc. That shit costs a lot.
That’s how the interstate system and urban highways were built. But people being displaced were mostly black and/or poor and/or immigrants, so it wasn’t seen as a bad thing at the time.
In the United States, the Constitution states that in order to take your land for this purpose, you must be compensated fairly. Of course, “fairly” in terms of market value did not amount to very much, but compensation was paid and even dilapidated housing in so-called “blighted” neighbourhoods were still worth something and the cost does add up when you’re knocking hundreds of houses down and having to pay thousands for each one.
Pretty sure China still pays out people but they don’t have any real court challenges. No court that says “do you really need this project, mathematically prove it”, “did you do x y and z study. Yes? Do it better.”, “did you have public consultation and address their concerns. Not good enough do it again.” Etc. That shit costs a lot.