MNS workers stall surveys for bullet train work in Thane

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers on Monday disrupted survey of land near Shilphata in Thane district for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.

More than 20 members of the MNS — carrying the party flags — reached the Shilphata village on the old Mumbai-Pune highway and protested against the land measurement process being carried out by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited.

The bullet train, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project, would pass through the twin districts of Thane and Palghar before entering Mumbai.

"We will continue to oppose this measurement drive as we want jobs and not a bullet train. We will not allow bullet train to come here,” said Avinash Jadhav, Thane district president of MNS.

Last week, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had asked party workers to oppose the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project and the proposed Mumbai-Vadodara high-speed expressway.

The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, estimated to cost Rs 1,08,000 crore, is being built with the assistance of the Japanese government.

The All India Kisan Sabha had also recently opposed the bullet train project in Dahanu in Palghar district.