Shamlaji: FarA large number of farmers and their family members, who have been affected by the new Modasa-Shamlaji Railway Line, on Thursday raised the demand for dropping the new route of the railway line in favour of the old one. The Modasa-Shamlaji Railway Line Affected Farmers’ Coordination Committee also submitted an application to this effect to the Aravalli district collector at the District Sevasadan.

The application states that implementing the project on the earlier older route will spare lot of impact to property and agricultural land. The application shines the spotlight on the fact that the older route was just 16.5 Kilometers whereas the new route is 22.5 kms long.

The application letter sent to the Union Railway Minister, Railway Board chairman, Gujarat’s chief minister, and the district collector alleges that the route for the railway line has been changed for the benefit of a few selected developers.

The application letter cites the fact that 94 acres of land from 401 farmers has been acquired for the new railway route, which will lead to severe loss of incomes from animal husbandry and agriculture in the affected villages.