Historic Rail Alignment Project to Transform Mumbai-Pune Travel
Historic Rail Alignment Project to Transform Mumbai-Pune Travel
In a landmark decision, a new rail alignment plan between Mumbai and Pune has received approval for the first time in 160 years, promising a major upgrade to one of India’s busiest routes. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the plan last weekend, urging Central Railway to expedite the project. Dubbed the “Sreedharan grade,” this new alignment will feature gentler inclines of 1:100, bypassing the current steep ghats and 28 tunnels that pose significant challenges.
Minister Vaishnaw personally assessed the current route by riding a special inspection train, stopping at Lonavala to evaluate the difficulties posed by the ghats and the use of banker locomotives. Banker locomotives, crucial for navigating the steep gradients of Bhor and Thal Ghat, push trains uphill and help control them downhill due to the existing gradient of 1:37. However, the new 1:100 gradient aims to eliminate the need for these additional locomotives, potentially reducing travel times between Mumbai and Pune.
Currently, only the Train 18 Vande Bharat and the Mumbai CSMT-Rajdhani Express can navigate these ghats without additional locomotives, with the Rajdhani Express using engines at both ends of the train. The new alignment will render such measures unnecessary, offering a smoother and faster journey.
Parallel to this, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is working on the missing link project of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, expected to be operational by May 2025. This project will reduce the length of the expressway section from Khopoli exit to Sinhgad Institute from 19 km to 13.3 km, cutting travel time by 20-25 minutes.
In addition to the new alignment, Minister Vaishnaw also approved the construction of a third and fourth line between Pune and Lonavala. Currently, this 63.84 km section is a double-line electrified route. The new lines will be built on the UP side of the existing tracks to minimize land acquisition and facilitate future integration with lines like the Pune-Nasik route.
The proposed new rail alignment will start near Karjat station and extend to Talegaon station, creating a double-electrified line. Despite a longer detour of about 20 km, this route is expected to be faster due to the elimination of banker locomotive operations and related delays. Once finalized, this alignment will provide commuters with a more seamless journey, potentially saving 10 to 20 minutes overall.
Overall, the new rail alignment, additional lines between Pune and Lonavala, and the expressway project represent significant advancements in connectivity and travel efficiency between Mumbai and Pune.
