Now, Indian Railways Bullet Train runs into more problems

On May 16, the farmers of Diva staged a symbolic two-hour protest in front of the District Collectorate Thane against bullet train project. Refusing to take political support, the farmers said that this is just the beginning of their protest to ensure that they do not lose their lands and gaothans to fulfill somebody else’s dream.

On Wednesday, over 100 farmers gathered in front of the collector office to stage protest against Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor. “We want them to stick to the earlier Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Colaba route or take it from Vasai and Thane Creek, through Mulund to end at Bombay Port Trust (BPT),” says Govind Bhagat, president of Aagri Yuvak Sanghatna (Aayus) which organised the protest.

He said that they also opposed the forceful land survey done by the collector’s office for the project. “Since 1962 they have not done the gaothan survey, and now have declared our village as a slum. We want the forceful survey done by them to be dismissed. We also want action to be taken against the tehsildar, talathi, and the regional officer who did this survey,” he says.

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The bullet train project is opposed by farmers of Diva, Virar and Shil fata who stand to lose over 400 to 500 acres of land for the rail line as well as the car shed. “Just because it is somebody’s dream project does not mean you will do anything to fulfill it,” says Bhagat hinting at PM Narendra Modi.

Thane collector Dr Mahendra Kalyankar was unavailable for comments.

By Naveeta Singh, DNA India