After felling 54k trees, Rlys realises it made an error; panel to examine issue

Bhopal: The Railways ministry has ordered a fresh technical review of the Lalitpur–Singrauli railway project alignment in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna region after concerns were raised over a proposed route change following the axing of more than 54,000 trees for the original alignment.

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed officials to reassess the existing route after reviewing drone imagery and topographical maps linked to the project, according to an official statement issued by West Central Railway on Thursday.

A three-member technical committee has also been constituted to examine the matter.

The Lalitpur–Singrauli rail line is a major connectivity project aimed at linking the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions and improving railway access in remote parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Khajuraho–Panna section of the project passes through forest areas and has remained environmentally sensitive from the outset.

The review comes after reports that the route finalised in 2021 was being reconsidered. Under the original alignment, about 315 hectares of land were acquired and 54,578 trees in forest areas were felled in 2022–23.

Sources told TOI that the earlier design involved multiple sharp curves, raising operational and safety concerns, while the revised alignment proposes fewer curves and changes in engineering structures.

While the original plan included eight tunnels, the new proposal reportedly involves seven tunnels and ten bridges.

Officials associated with the process estimate the acquisition of nearly 258 hectares of additional forest land for the revised alignment. Tree enumeration in the new patch has begun, with estimates suggesting that a substantial number of trees could be affected if the revised route is approved.

The development has raised questions among environmental groups and local observers on whether the need for re-alignment could have been identified earlier, before large-scale tree felling and expenditure on the original route.

Meanwhile, railway authorities maintained that a review was being undertaken to ensure long-term safety and operational feasibility of the line.

In its statement, the Railways ministry said the expert team would examine all possible alternatives to ensure minimal ecological impact and preservation of the maximum number of trees.

Vaishnaw also directed officials to undertake compensatory plantation of more than double the number of affected trees before the upcoming monsoon season.