Mumbai, September 24: The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has hit another roadblock after farmers' protest. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japanese agency funding the project, has refused to release any further instalments till the Centre resolves the dispute with the protesting farmers. Over 1000 Gujarat Farmers Oppose Land Acquisition Process, File Affidavit in HC

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the agency had so far released only Rs 125 crore out of the Rs 80,000 crore amount soft loan that it is supposed to provide for the bullet train project. The bullet train project is worth Rs 1 lakh crore. The government has now formed a panel to look into the recent roadblocks.

The Congress has hit out at the Narendra Modi government over the recent reports. "PM Modi's much-hyped Bullet train project has stopped in its tracks as Japanese agency JICA stops funding - due to continued farmer protests against land acquisition. Clearly, foreign agencies care more for the plight of our farmers than our govt," the Congress tweeted on Monday.

Earlier this month, nearly 1,000 farmers from Gujarat filed affidavits in the Gujarat High Court, opposing the land acquisition process started by the State government.

Around 1,400 hectares of land will be acquired in Gujarat and Maharashtra for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Of this, 1,120 hectares is privately owned land. Around 6,000 landowners will have to be compensated, a report by PTI had said.  The farmers have alleged that the Gujarat government diluted the Land Acquisition Act 2013 after Japan entered into a contract with India for the bullet train in September 2015. India to Purchase 18 Bullet Trains From Japan for Rs 7,000 Crore

The farmers said that the state amendment itself violates JICA guidelines and that neither their consent was taken, nor any consultations were done with them while initiating the land acquisition.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in September 2017. Under the ambitious project, the bullet train is believed to run at a speed of 320-350 kmph, and have 12 stations across its 500 km stretch.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2018 11:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).