Ashok Chavan suggests Marathwada to be included in Mumbai-Hyderabad bullet train route

Work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train has been planned for a long time now, and Maharashtra's Public Works Minister Ashok Chavan, recently asked the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for the Mumbai-Aurangabad-Jalna-Nanded-Hyderabad route be proposed as a bullet train project in Maharashtra.

Ashok Chavan has written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard whereby he pointed out the need for this route and the benefit it would have if approved. He has requested the same be communicated to the central government. 

Also Read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train first visuals out, see photos

The National High Speed Rail Corporation has been set up for the implementation of bullet train projects However, Marathwada has not received any benefit in this planning. One of the routes suggested is from Mumbai to Hyderabad to Aurangabad, whereby including Nanded has been advised and Ashok Chavan has demanded that another route be proposed which could include Mumbai-Aurangabad-Jalna-Nanded-Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee for Infrastructure has approved the proposed Jalna-Nanded Expressway and  a proposal has been submitted to the government post which the process of land acquisition could begin. Once completed, it would be possible for the government to work on the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project which could be extended to Jalna-Nanded. 

Furthermore, officials have informed that the same route can be propsed to the Central Government, and have asked the the state government to immediately send a proposal for consideration. The department has requested that the govrnment should also mentioned the department would be providing land for Mumbai-Aurangabad-Nanded project through Samrudhi Highway. 

Earlier this year, Larsen and Toubro was given the contract for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project worth INR 25,000 crore. However, there has not been much progress regarding the same. In June 2020, the railways department was not able to provide a completion deadline and the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited was not able to find a bidder for an underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).