Palghar: The state government on Wednesday issued an order diverting 4.985 hectares or 12.32 acres of forest land for the proposed goods siding yard at Boisar railway station, clearing the way for construction of the new yard. The project is being undertaken by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRVC) under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3 (MUTP-3). The Union environment ministry had earlier granted final approval for diversion of the forest land.Two goods yards currently operate outside Boisar railway station. The yard near the station handles freight trains and sees movement of around 80-100 trailers a day to various industrial units. Another yard beyond Khairapada bridge is used to transport heavy goods, including steel billets manufactured in Boisar and Tarapur.The western yard is an obstacle to the proposed quadrupling of the Western Railway line. It is therefore planned to be shifted to a site near the old BARC warehouse adjoining the Chitralaya area in Boisar West. The proposed site comprises both private land and protected forest land.With the state government now ordering diversion of the required forest land to MRVC, a key hurdle in shifting the yard has been cleared. The relocation is expected to facilitate the proposed railway quadrupling project.
