NHRCL awareness drive on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train

With Palghar bypolls over, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHRCL) is holding a public meeting to make people understand the need for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project. The rail authorities involved in implementing this Rs 1.08 lakh crore bullet train project, claim that they have got stuck in the eye-of-the-storm just around the by-polls. Over the past few weeks, locals are vociferously opposing this 508 km High Speed rail project, which will be country's first.

Of the total stretch, 108 km of rail line will be passing through Palghar for which 170 hectares of land will be needed. There are 123 villages and towns falling under Palghar district, which are more or less affected by land acquisition for this project.

"We will be holding a public meeting on May 29 where we will address queries of all those who feel affected by this project," said an official from NHSRCL.

Until now they had been meeting villagers by specifically going to these places. The authorities feel that there is lot of misconception regarding the land acquisition, monetary reimbursements against land acquired and other things. The officials claim that they will be paying 2.5 times of ready reckoner rate at urban areas and 5 times of the same in rural areas.

"Bullet train is not the need of the hour. The government should first provide proper roads and water connections instead of this," said Ulka Mahajan, social activist and member, Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan. Mahajan's outfit, as well as several opposition parties have been actively opposing the project.