MSC gets consents of total 471 hectare from Thane   In a historic move, a majority of farmers from Fugale, Washala Budruk and Tokarkhand villages in Thane, Maharashtra, have given their consent to the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Express Highway, popularly known as the Maharashtra Samruddhi Corridor (MSC). As many as 76 farmers from Fugale village gave their consent for their land, amounting to a total of 311 hectare; 25 farmers from Washala Budruk (140 hectare); 17 farmers from Tokarkhand (30 hectare) respectively, offered their consent at a recently held event at Fugale.   Farmers from Fugale, Washala Budruk, Tokarkhand villages were demanding construction of a highway and Prosperity corridors through their villages. They had gathered in large numbers at Fugale and handed over their memorandums to Radheshyam Mopalwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), requesting him to consider their consent and initiate the process of construction from their localities. Farmers from these remote villages were deprived of even basic infrastructure facilities till date. But after the MSC project is completed, it is expected to enhance connectivity and bring prosperity to their villages and nearby areas.Addressing the group of farmers, Radheshyam Mopalwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, MSRDC, said, “We are happy to see the spontaneous participation of farmers from Fugale, Washala Budruk and Tokarkhand villages. Farmers from these tiny villages have not only created history in terms of the MSC as a project, but have also emerged as a great example of volunteer participation in the all-round development of the entire state.” Mopalwar further answered queries from the farmers and described the various benefits that will accrue to them from the MSC and the prosperity corridors on the occasion. Dattatraya Bhonde, Superintendent Engineer, MSRDC; Revati Gaikar, Deputy Collector, Thane; Revati Gaikar, Tehsildar, Shapaur; Ravi Baviskar, and other officials had been present on the occasion.   A total of 67 km of MSC is passing through the Thane district. About 832 hectare will be required for it from Thane.   Out of the 832 hectare, 250 hectare is a forest land, followed by 100 hectare government and the remaining 482 hectare accounting to the individuals and private. The encouraging response from Fugale, Washala Budruk and Tokarkhand will speed up the process of construction of MSC in Thane district. The government has adopted the land-pooling method, wherein farmers whose land is acquired will be returned developed land in the new towns, besides being given annuity for their loss of agriculture produce.   The MSC is essentially a 706-km super communication expressway between Nagpur and Mumbai, connecting 10 key districts, 27 talukas and 385 villages of Maharashtra to form the East-West Axis for the entire state. It will effectively slash travel time along this axis by half, bringing it down to a mere eight hours. Out of the 34 rural districts, 24 will get connected to the MSC. The Samruddhi Corridor will eventually be integrated with the Golden Quadrilateral and the Western corridor to ensure seamless connectivity across the state.   In what is being viewed by many as a significant step towards providing a major fillip to the infrastructure of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Prosperity Corridor will invite active participation of farmers in the developmental activities of the project. This development will not only offer short-term gains but also offer sustainable development that will strengthen the rural economy and agri-business eco-systems.