Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, on Monday, while informing about the progress of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, commonly called the bullet train project, said that as many as 54,000 mangroves spread over an area of 13.36 hectares will be affected because of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
Diwakar Raote gave this information in reply to a question raised by Shiv Sena legislator Maneesha Kayande in the state assembly.
“There will be no chopping of trees and there will no threat of flooding to some parts of Navi Mumbai. The pillars (of the project) will be high and hence will not damage the environment much,” said Raote, adding that the state government has proposed to plant five plants for each one that will be cut for the multi-billion dollar project.
“As per my information, farmers are keen on handing over their land for appropriate remuneration,” Raote informed in his written reply.
“The proposed land acquisition for the bullet train project is 1,379 hectares, of which 724.13 hectares is private land in Gujarat while 270.65 hectares is in Maharashtra,” said Raote replying to another question raised by Congress MLC Sharad Ranpise.
“As many as 188 hectares of private land in Palghar district is going to be acquired of which 2.95 hectares has been purchased as per the ‘private negotiation’ policy of the state government. As many as 3,498 people from Palghar will be affected due to the bullet train project,” added Raote.
“In Thane district, 84.81 hectares belonging to 6,589 farmers has been acquired of which 2.95 hectares has been purchased as per the private negotiation policy,” he said.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor (bullet train project) is expected to cost over Rs 1 lakh crore which is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
(With agency inputs)