Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that the long-pending Pune-Nashik railway project has finally moved ahead with a revised route, ending years of uncertainty for the project. The new rail corridor will connect Pune, Ahilyanagar, Shirdi, and Nashik. The original plan for a direct Pune-Nashik railway line was
dropped because it was found to be technically difficult due to concerns related to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) located near Narayangaon in Pune district.
Planning for the Revised Route
Speaking during the inauguration of the new Pune-Sainagar Shirdi train service, Vaishnaw said that planning for the revised route has already been completed. Several parts of the project have received official approval, and construction work has started on some sections.
The minister explained that scientists had raised concerns about the original alignment because railway operations could create electromagnetic interference that might affect the sensitive observations conducted at the GMRT facility. After discussions involving the Railways, the Maharashtra government, and scientific institutions, a new route was finalized.
Pune-Nashik Revised Route
According to Vaishnaw, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the revised alignment has been completed. The route will include a double railway line between Nashik and Shirdi capable of supporting trains running at speeds of up to 160 kmph. The line will then continue through Ahilyanagar to Pune.
He said that travel time on the revised route will remain almost the same as that of the originally proposed direct line, but the cost will be much lower. While the earlier project was expected to cost around ₹35,000 crore, the new alignment may be completed for nearly one-third of that amount.
Railway Developments in Pune
The minister also highlighted ongoing railway development in Pune. New platforms are being added at stations such as Khadki, Shivajinagar, and Hadapsar. Pune station itself will get six additional platforms. A new railway terminal is also being developed at Alandi with nine platforms, which is expected to handle around 35 trains and improve rail services across the region.