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New Uddhav Thackeray government may scrap Bullet train project

MUMBAI: The new Uddhav Thackeray government, which is set to take office on Thursday, may scrap the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project, according to Shiv Sena leaders here.

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Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 27


The new Uddhav Thackeray government, which is set to take office on Thursday, may scrap the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project, according to Shiv Sena leaders here.

Two party leaders, Manisha Kayande and Deepak Kesarkar, told reporters here that the Congress and the Shiv Sena are opposed to the Bullet train project.

"Maharashtra is required to pay Rs 40,000 crore as its share for the Bullet Train project. We would like to use this money for farm loan waiver," Kayande said. Kesarkar added that the huge funds required to be provided by Maharashtra for a project that was seen benefiting Gujarat's diamond cutting and polishing industry has been opposed by the new coalition government.

Shiv Sena leaders from Mumbai also pointed out that the Bullet Train terminus planned at Bandra-Kurla Complex in the city would prevent high-rises being constructed above it. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which owns much of the land at BKC, is raising funds for various infrastructure projects in Mumbai by constructing tall office buildings in the area.

Land acquisition for the Bullet Train project in Maharashtra has been stuck with farmers on the outskirts of Mumbai refusing to part with their land.

A section of the Shiv Sena is however not keen on disrupting the project since it could alienate investors. These leaders are, however, of the opinion that the entire Bullet train project be funded by the
Central government.

This group is pitching for realigning the route of the Bullet train so that its headquarters is moved away from the BKC.

Officials say the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd, the special purpose vehicle set up to implement the project, has so far acquired nearly 50 per cent of the land - most of it in Gujarat.

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