Thane civic body starts razing illegal structures along Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation, Monday, launched a demolition drive on illegal structures obstructing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor at the Shil-Daighar area.
The structures, mostly multi-tier buildings, allegedly came up on govt land in the area abutting the route and were obstructing the construction of the lines, prompting the drive.
The team of civic and revenue officials, along with earthmovers (JCB machines), started the drive around 11 am amid police cover, who were deployed to prevent resistance from residents.
A few residents staged a protest when the teams arrived at the spot around Monday noon, but timely intervention by the police and the civic security ensured the drive went on peacefully.
“Bullet train is a vital national project, and many illegal structures came in its way and needed to be demolished. A few anti-social elements constructed illegal structures and also sold these flats to unsuspecting buyers, making it difficult for us to take action initially. We faced stiff resistance but managed to evacuate the structures,” informed deputy municipal commissioner Manish Joshi, who led the drive along with teams from the revenue department and Daighar police.
An official added that the Thane Corporation and the revenue department were asked to remove all unauthorized structures along the bullet train route in the Shil-Phata area, following which notices were issued to the residents and owners of the structures, and public hearings were conducted before launching the demolition drive.
The bullet train project will help improve connectivity between the commercial hubs of Maharashtra and Gujarat states - Mumbai and Ahmedabad respectively - and boost economic growth in key cities along the route, including Diva, Virar, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, and Sabarmati, among others, along its 508-km-long route.
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