The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has approved the proposal of constructing a stretch of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) paving the way for bids to be called for the construction of the infrastructure project. State government officials confirmed here that 58 hectares of land, which now belongs to the national park, will be used for building the DFC. At present, a single railway line connecting Panvel (outside Thane) to Vasai (outside Mumbai city) passes through the SGNP. Following the green signal, a second line will be laid on this stretch as part of the freight corridor, according to officials of the wildlife department. The ministry has specified that four underpasses be constructed below the rail tracks so that there would no threat to the movement of wild animals in the forest. The Maharashtra government had cleared the proposal at the state-level and sent it to the Centre early this month. However, the government which is keen on attracting foreign investment fast tracked the proposal. Sources say, Maharashtra which has been accused of lagging behind in acquiring land for the DFC has now stepped on the accelerator. According to officials most the 470 hectares of land between Panvel and Dahanu earmarked for the stretch of the DFC passing through the state has been acquired. “It now depends on the railways to invite bids to begin work on the project,” a senior state government official said. Once complete, the 1,500-km freight corridor will connect JNPT with the National Capital Region. The Western DFC between Dadri and JNPT will pass through Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Phulera and Rewari. This section of the corridor will be a double-lined diesel track. The corridor also includes another 32-km single line from Pirthala to Tughlakabad. road in the wild 58 hectares, which belong to the national park, will be used to build the Dedicated Freight Corridor Four underpasses will be constructed below the rail tracks so that there will be no threat to the movement of wild animals in the forest