Junagadh: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a subsidiary of Indian Railways, had released a tender for the conversion of a metre-gauge line between Junagadh and Visavadar in July. This proposal, which extends from Junagadh to Toraniya, Bilkha, and Visavadar, has raised alarms due to its proximity to the Girnar sanctuary and its passage through an eco-sensitive zone adjacent to the sanctuary, known for its considerable lion population.

The forest authorities have raised objections, highlighting that the railway officials did not consult or inform them about the tender. The tender is expected to be open in the final week of August.

The proposed track’s trajectory passes through an area with a significant lion population and closely approaches the Girnar Sanctuary, ultimately entering the eco-sensitive zone of the Gir protected area. Bhavnagar divisional railway manager Ravish Kumar admitted that essential approvals are still pending. He remains optimistic that RVNL will secure the necessary approvals, given the project’s government backing.

Aradhana Sahu, chief conservator of forests and wildlife in Junagadh, stated that the department was neither informed about the tender issuance nor granted consent for the project. A senior forest department official noted that although the proposal presented to the State Board for Wildlife in 2020 had not received official approval, the meeting minutes recorded it as approved. This senior officer also pointed out that despite the project’s cost exceeding Rs 410 crore, the tender document does not address fencing concerns as was done for the Rajula-Pipavav track.

It is noteworthy that at least eight lions have died on a similar track route between Rajula and Pipavav, with two recent fatalities caused by passing trains. DeshGujarat