MARGAO: The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has postponed its decision on granting forest clearance for the controversial Mollem railway doubling project. The proposal, submitted by the Goa government and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), remains in limbo due to environmental concerns.During a meeting on Wednesday, the committee reviewed the request but opted to seek further clarification before making a determination. “The proposal was discussed, but additional information is needed from the project proponents before a decision can be reached,” an official familiar with the proceedings said on condition of anonymity.
The Goa government has petitioned the REC’s Bangalore office to revoke an abeyance order that has halted the diversion of 15.6 hectares of forest land along the Kulem-Kalem railway stretch in North Goa. The request aims to facilitate the transfer of land to South Western Railway and RVNL, a critical step for advancing the long-disputed expansion project. The rail doubling initiative, which spans the Tinaighat (Karnataka) to Vasco da Gama (Goa) route, previously faced a major setback when the Supreme Court revoked its wildlife clearances in 2022. This decision followed recommendations from the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which highlighted the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats, an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot and vital wildlife corridor.
Despite the legal and environmental roadblocks, efforts to revive the project have continued. Ahead of the REC meeting, a group of environmentalists and scientists submitted a representation urging the committee to uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling. “This project represents an inefficient use of resources and poses significant socio-ecological risks with marginal benefits. We strongly question the motives behind its continued pursuit when all evidence suggests it should be abandoned. The REC must adhere to the Supreme Court’s directive and reject the proposal outright,” they stated. While the Supreme Court’s ruling canceled previous permissions, it allowed for reconsideration if the Railways submitted a revised proposal to the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Such a proposal was required to include a comprehensive assessment of the project’s impact on biodiversity and ecology within protected areas. In response, the Wildlife Institute of India conducted a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), titled ‘Mitigation Measures for The Doubling Of Railway Track Between Tinaighat (Karnataka) And Kulem (Goa),’ which was recently submitted to the MoEF&CC.
The proposed railway expansion, which involves constructing a second track parallel to the existing line between Goa’s Mormugao Port and Karnataka’s industrial region, was initially approved by the NBWL in April 2020. However, this approval sparked large-scale protests in Goa, where residents expressed concerns that the project would primarily serve to facilitate increased coal transportation from the port to steel industries in Karnataka. RVNL, which is spearheading the project, maintains that the doubling of the track is essential for easing congestion in the ghat section and improving both passenger and freight movement. Railway authorities argue that the project is crucial for ensuring seamless transport, stimulating economic activity in Goa, and strengthening regional connectivity.
The latest mitigation report outlines various measures to reduce environmental impact, including wildlife overpasses, fencing, drainage systems, amphibian passages, canopy bridges, and early warning systems. However, it also warns that “if these measures cannot be effectively implemented, doubling the track should be reconsidered.” Given the significant ecological concerns, the report advises that the railway expansion should proceed only if there is a concrete mechanism to enforce the recommended safeguards. With the REC deferring its decision and seeking further clarifications, environmentalists see this as a hopeful sign that their concerns are being taken seriously. They remain firm in their demand that the project be scrapped entirely, emphasizing that any revival efforts must not come at the cost of Goa’s rich biodiversity and ecological stability.