Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that the direct semi-high-speed rail line connecting Pune and Nashik has been scrapped. The decision follows technical issues that rendered the original route unfeasible for construction.
New Connectivity Plans for Pune and Nashik
During a flag-off ceremony for the Pune-Shirdi train at Pune railway station, Minister Vaishnaw revealed a revised route plan. The new alignment will connect Pune-Ahilyanagar-Shirdi-Nashik, and work on this alternative has already commenced. This revised connectivity aims to improve access across the region, leveraging ongoing railway expansion projects to enable new train services from Pune.
₹2 Lakh Crore Investment in Maharashtra Railways
Vaishnaw highlighted a substantial investment of nearly ₹2 lakh crore in railway projects across Maharashtra. This massive outlay includes proposals for dedicated freight corridors designed to link major ports like JNPT and Wadwan with inland regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada. This initiative, proposed by CM Devendra Fadnavis, seeks to provide direct connectivity to approximately 75% of Maharashtra, targeting an 8% reduction in logistics costs. Additionally, an East-West Dedicated Freight Corridor is planned to bolster connectivity in North Maharashtra and foster economic growth statewide.
Bullet Trains and Reduced Travel Times
Progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is rapid, with the first section expected to become operational next year. The minister stated that this high-speed network would significantly cut travel durations between key cities. Specifically, the Mumbai-Pune corridor is projected to reduce travel time to just 48 minutes, while the Pune-Hyderabad journey could be completed in approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes. These improvements are set to create a robust economic ecosystem connecting Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vapi, and Thane.
Doubling Pune's Railway Capacity
Plans are also underway to double Pune's railway capacity through multiple infrastructure upgrades. Pune station, currently featuring six platforms, will be expanded to 12 platforms. Maintenance facilities presently handled at Pune station are being relocated to Ghorpadi, Fursungi, and Alandi to enhance operational capacity. Furthermore, a mega terminal is under development at Alandi, designed to manage up to 35 trains daily. These projects, expected to largely complete within three years, will enable Pune to operate 20 additional trains.
Station Redevelopment Across the State
Redevelopment efforts are progressing at major stations, including Nashik Road, Nagpur, and Ajni. Vaishnaw assured that these projects prioritize safety and the preservation of heritage structures, particularly at Nashik Road and Nagpur. Ajni station is receiving a modern high-rise building as part of its upgrade. Looking ahead, Pune's railway connectivity is set to expand further, with new trains planned to link the city with Marathwada, Konkan, Vidarbha, western Maharashtra, and northern Maharashtra.