Mathura, 2018.02.16 (VT) An additional rail track is proposed for the Delhi to Agra via Mathura line. Unfortunately 452 trees need to be cut down in order to make space for the new rail tracks. North Central Railways has made an application to cut down the trees. The proposal includes the promise to plant 5000 trees behind the Vrindavan Road railway station at Chatikara.
The Supreme Court will consider the application to clear land for the railway on 20th March.
The railway track has already been laid up to Palwal. If extended to Mathura it will be the fourth railway line between Delhi and Mathura. Many trains stop at Palwal instead of continuing on to Mathura. Increased connectivity by rail is seen one of the solutions necessary to reduce the traffic on the NH2 and Yamuna Expressway and to reduce the air pollution from vehicle emissions.
Mathura falls within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) so strict regulations are in place, especially in regards to air pollution. During an inspection on Thursday, officials from the TTZ and Forestry Department examined the area where the rail tracks will be laid and assessed the need to cut down the trees.
North Central Railway Deputy Chief Engineer, Vivek Kumar, said that the committee was satisfied with the proposal of the Railways. The Forestry department will take the responsibility for planting five thousand new trees on five hectares of ground behind the Vrindavan Road railway station.
Last year, the Forestry Department claimed that there was no new land in Vrindavan to plant trees and talks about connecting the narrow gauge rail that runs between Mathura and Vrindavan to the main line have been going on for years. Environmentalists can only hope that the railway line extensions will be completed soon and that the replacement trees will get the care they need in order to flourish.
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