The authorities of the province of Settat have announced the completion of administrative procedures relating to the expropriation of land necessary for the construction of the high-speed rail line (LGV) linking Kenitra to Marrakech. This project, which crosses a distance of 63.5 kilometers in the territory of the province, concerns 996 plots representing a total area of 552 hectares. The expropriation decisions were issued in accordance with Law 07.81 for reasons of public utility.
According to a press release from the prefecture, the plots concerned are located on the territory of several municipalities in the province, including Sidi El Aïdi, Settat, Mzamza Sud, El Houaza, Khemisset Chaouia, Sidi Mohammed Ben Rahal and Machraa Ben Abbou.
These details were revealed during a meeting chaired on Friday January 10 by the governor of the province, Ibrahim Abouzaid, dedicated to the advancement of the construction stages of this strategic infrastructure. The discussions focused on solutions to the challenges posed by expropriations, in particular the need to compensate the owners concerned and to accelerate the procedures for those who have expressed their agreement to amicable compensation.
In this context, the governor insisted to representatives of the National Railway Office (ONCF) on the urgency of transmitting, within one week, the list of compensation beneficiaries. This measure aims to allow local authorities to coordinate with owners for payment. Compensation will cover both damage linked to affected plantations, crops and installations as well as damage suffered by the real estate concerned.
-During the meeting, the different legal, administrative and technical stages of carrying out the project were detailed. The fourth section, covering the municipalities of Sidi El Aïdi, Settat, Mzamza Sud and El Houaza, will be executed by a Moroccan company at a cost of 2.362 billion dirhams and will last 33 months. The fifth section, entrusted to a Chinese company for a budget of 1.529 billion dirhams, will cross the municipalities of Khemisset Chaouia, Sidi Mohammed Ben Rahal and Machraa Ben Abbou over the same duration.
This high-speed line, which will connect Kenitra to Marrakech, represents a major strategic investment for the development of Morocco’s railway infrastructure, which will strengthen connectivity between the north and south of the country by 2030.
