Not easy to end bullet train project: Officials

The Asian Age.  | Sonu Shrivastava

Metros, Mumbai

An official said that a total 20,000 equity shares are being raised by the Union government and Maharashtra and Gujarat governments.

The Centre will fund 50 per cent of the equity shares while the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments will fund 25 per cent equity shares each. (Photo: File pic)

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project might prove difficult to scrap, officials told The Asian Age on Friday. They said that the state government would have to provide Rs 5,000 crore for the project — which the Sena has been opposing tooth and nail from day one — as equity share.

While a tripartite agreement between the Central government, Maharashtra and Gujarat has not been signed yet, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave a draft of the same his approval during his tenure. An official said that at the most, the state machinery could delay the project by not intervening in the land acquisition process or by not providing funds.

Apart from the BJP’s erstwhile ally, farmers and tribal groups in Palghar district have been protesting against the project as they are unwilling to hand over their land to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, the implementing agency for the high-speed train corridor.

An official said that a total 20,000 equity shares are being raised by the Union government and Maharashtra and Gujarat governments. The Centre will fund 50 per cent of the equity shares while the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments will fund 25 per cent equity shares each.

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