Bhujbal Pushes For Revival Of Original Pune-Nashik Rail Route, CM To Review Proposal
Bhujbal Pushes For Revival Of Original Pune-Nashik Rail Route, CM To Review Proposal
Mumbai, June 14, 2025:
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal is making a renewed push to revive the original alignment of the Pune-Nashik semi high-speed railway corridor, which has remained stalled for over five years due to alignment disputes.
Bhujbal met officials from the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (Maharail) on Friday, followed by a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging that the project be implemented along the initially proposed route with only a minor deviation to address scientific concerns.
The original alignment — Pune-Chakan-Rajgurunagar-Manchar-Narayangaon-Sangamner-Sinnar-Nashik — faced objections from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), which manages the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Narayangaon. NCRA had raised concerns that the electrical frequencies from the railway’s pantograph system could interfere with their sensitive radio equipment.
To address these concerns, the railway ministry in December 2024 proposed an alternative route via Ahilyanagar and Shirdi, avoiding Narayangaon but extending the journey by 80 km. Bhujbal, however, strongly opposed the change, stating that the detour would reduce the project’s efficiency and economic viability.
He has now proposed two alternatives: constructing a tunnel near the observatory (which was earlier rejected due to cost concerns), or implementing a modest 15-kilometre diversion to bypass the GMRT’s sensitive zone. He also suggested a separate future rail link to Shirdi to ensure connectivity without altering the main corridor’s path.
“The original route supports better industrial and logistic connectivity, especially with the upcoming Vadhavan port, and should be retained for larger state and national benefit,” Bhujbal said. He emphasized the need to expedite the project before the 2027–28 Kumbh Mela.
The 236-km corridor, estimated to cost ₹16,039 crore, was initially approved by NITI Aayog in 2020. While funding was to come from a mix of loans (60%) and equity (40%), final clearance from the Centre’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is still pending.
Responding to Bhujbal’s proposal, CM Fadnavis acknowledged the sensitivity of the GMRT’s location. He said, “The change in alignment is inevitable due to the presence of a world-class observatory backed by 32 countries. The new route, while slightly longer, includes Shirdi and ensures scientific safeguards.”
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has been directed to evaluate both the existing railway ministry’s route and Bhujbal’s revised suggestions. A final decision will be made after careful scrutiny by the state government.
