Revised Pune-Nashik rail route approved; GMRT zone kept out

The ministry of railways had earlier given an “in-principle” approval to the project that would cut through the GMRT array of parabolic antennas across 30 km in a radio-quiet region in Pune district’s Narayangaon area.

Pune: Responding to suggestions on the pending proposed ₹16,000-crore Pune-Nashik high-speed rail project, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that a revised alignment has been finalised that avoids the sensitive scientific zone around the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).

The ministry of railways had earlier given an “in-principle” approval to the project that would cut through the GMRT array of parabolic antennas across 30 km in a radio-quiet region in Pune district’s Narayangaon area. (HT)

The ministry of railways had earlier given an “in-principle” approval to the project that would cut through the GMRT array of parabolic antennas across 30 km in a radio-quiet region in Pune district’s Narayangaon area.

Vaishnaw said the railways remained committed to a “scientifically safe and economically beneficial” Pune–Nashik link. “After detailed consultations with stakeholders, we finalised an alignment that protects the GMRT observatory while meeting the connectivity needs of the people,” he said.

The department of science and technology and the department of atomic energy had opposed the earlier alignment highlighting that rail activity near GMRT could disrupt its international radio astronomy operations.

The revised route will run through Nashik–Sainagar Shirdi–Puntamba–Nimblak–Ahilyanagar–Pune, passing through the Chakan industrial belt. Officials said the change adds only a marginal difference in travel time.

The corridor is expected to boost pilgrimage, cultural and historical tourism by directly linking Nashik, Shirdi and Pune.