Maha CM says no to broad-gauge of rail line from Melghat tiger project

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has requested Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar to find out an alternative alignment for the proposed Akola-Khandwa railway gauge upgradation project.  

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays suggestion comes against the backdrop of a 2016 survey report prepared jointly by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and World Bank Group (WBG). The report prepared by Dr V B Mathur and Dr Asha Rajvanshi titled “Eco friendly measures to mitigate linear Infrastructure on Wildlife”. The report dealt with construction of walkways or bridges on tracks used by wild animals that cross path with National Highways. The aim was to reduce accidental deaths of wild animals after being hit by speeding vehicles and to ensure safe unhindered passage to wildlife.

As per the proposal, the railway project will be aligned from the Melghat tiger project. “We as a nation have been showcasing the project tiger to the world and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has given priority to the tiger conservation project”, CM Thackeray pointed out in the letter. 

The Railway ministry has proposed for approval of upgrading the existing 176 km Akola to Khandwa railway line from meter-gauge to broad-gauge. Around 23.48 km railway line will be realigned for it. “This route will not only be realigned but will have to be redrawn, altogether”, he said.

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“This will not affect the tigers and simultaneously, it (broad-gauge) will benefit the people from Jalgaon-Jamod and Sangrampur taluka and nearby 100 villages”, Thackeray said.   

According to the nine tiger projects announced in 1973-74, Melghat Tiger Project stood first in the country, he underlined.  

Spread across an area of 2,758.52 sq km, the tiger project will be affected due to the increase of rail transport due to broad-gauge railway line. “This will affect the core of the tiger reserve. Besides, the speed of the trains will increase. In order to keep the reserve unblemished and protected 22 villages have been rehabilitated elsewhere”, he said, adding, the India Habitat Centre too had suggested to find an alternate route and not to implement the broad-gauge project from the tiger reserve.

“Railway lines should be developed but at the same time, especially in places like Melghat the tigers should be conserved and the environment should be protected. Therefore, an alternative route is explored”, the chief minister added.