Please read news article published in Times of India, Nagpur. Social worker moves HC against railway line expansion in MTR Vaibhav Ganjapure | TNN | Jun 28, 2018, 04:17 IST Nagpur: Three days after TOI published report on adverse effects of proposed broad gauge conversion of Khandwa to Akola railway line through lush green Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), a social worker knocked judiciary’s praying for staying the project. A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Zaka Haq issued notices to the respondents, including Union Ministry for Environment, forest and Climate change (MOEFCC), asking them to reply within two weeks. Union Railway Ministry secretary, South Central Railway’s general manager, and state revenue secretary are other respondents in the PIL, filed by city resident Pramod Junghare through counsel Ashwin Ingole. Citing a report by National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) working group submitted in January, TOI had reported that the railway route shouldn’t be moved from the MTR and alternative one should be explored. The report mentioned that railways wasn’t keen to construct an alternate route as it was longer by 29.37km and it had to lay a 6.65km single tunnel near Kunverdev village, which will cost Rs556 crore. It further questioned railways stating that when it could dig tunnels in most difficult Pir Panjal (J&K) range and Konkan, why it was reluctant in MTR’s case, considering the threats to wild animals habitat.