Mumbai, June 25: In the time when National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) mulling names for India's first bullet train, a new revelation has come through the Maharashtra government on Monday where they confirmed that around 54,000 mangroves spread across 13.36 hectares (ha) in state will be razed for the esteemed project. The Bullet Train is expected to ply between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

With the whopping amount of natural vegetation in danger, Shiv Sena legislator Manisha Kayande had questioned the state government on how it is going to compensate for the loss. To this, transport minister Diwakar Raote told the Legislative Council that the government will plant five times the trees that will be cut for the project. Bullet Train Name Contest: Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Train Gets 22,000 Entries, Vayu Putra, Mahatma, Bullet Bharat, Vidyut Among Top Suggestions

Answering the question in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Raote said, as reported by Hindustan Times, "The project will run on high pillars, to ensure the damage to mangroves and the environment is minimal. The floodwater will not enter Navi Mumbai, as no mangroves are being cut in the area."

The state transport minister even promised the Legislative Council members that appropriate compensation would be given to people who will be affected by the project. Also, the state government said a total of 1,379 ha is proposed to be acquired for the project, when asked by Congress legislator Sharad Ranpise to clear some facts.

It is to be known that out of the 1,379 ha land, 275.65 ha - privately owned - falls in Maharashtra. In Mumbai's Vikhroli, the government will purchase 39.252 sqm of private land and in Palghar 188 ha of private land will be acquired. However, in Thane, the government is set to purchase 84.81 ha of land belonging to farmers.

Earlier, NHSRCL received a whopping 22,000 entries as suggestions to name India’s first bullet train. Some named it Udantashtari while others named it Vayu Putra, Mahatma, Bullet Bharat, Vidyut, Pawan Putra and Chetak.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2019 06:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).