Pune–Nashik rail corridor gets new alignment, set to boost Maharashtra's industry, tourism and connectivity

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. File pic

The Ministry of Railways on Wednesday has announced a new alignment for the proposed Pune-Nashik high-speed rail corridor, aimed at strengthening connectivity between two of Maharashtra's key economic and cultural hubs. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the details in response to suggestions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the project.

The earlier proposed route via Narayangaon, passing near the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), was deemed unfeasible by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Atomic Energy, as railway operations could interfere with the observatory's international research.

After consultations with the Maharashtra government, local representatives, and technical experts, Railways has proposed an alternate alignment that bypasses the GMRT zone. The revised route will connect: Nashik → Sainagar Shirdi → Puntamba → Nimblak → Ahilyanagar → Pune (via Chakan Industrial Estate).

Current status of the project:

Detailed Project Report (DPR) for doubling lines between Nashik Road and Sainagar Shirdi is complete.

Rs 240 crore sanctioned for doubling the 17 km Sainagar Shirdi-Puntamba line.

Doubling of 80 km Puntamba-Nimblak line has already been completed.

Doubling of 6-km Nimblak-Ahilyanagar line is underway.

DPR for new double lines between Ahilyanagar and Pune (133 km) connecting Chakan Industrial Estate was prepared at a cost of Rs 8,970 crore.

The alignment connects Nashik, a heritage city, with Sainagar Shirdi, one of India's most prominent pilgrimage sites, and Pune, a historical city that was the capital during the Peshwa era. The corridor is expected to enhance:

Religious tourism to Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, and Pandharpur.

Historical and cultural tourism in Pune, including forts and heritage sites.

Rural tourism and local handicraft industries along the corridor.

Direct connectivity will benefit Chakan Industrial Estate, a rapidly growing manufacturing hub. Key advantages include:

Improved freight movement and lower logistics costs.

Attraction of new industrial investments.

Expansion of MSMEs and supply-chain clusters.

Faster rail connectivity will support academic and skill development collaboration between Nashik and Pune, enhance student mobility, and promote balanced urban development across the region.

Vaishnaw highlighted that under the Prime Minister's vision of integrated connectivity, initiatives like the Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal are already operational at 130 locations nationwide. Similar multi-agency planning can drive comprehensive development along the Pune-Nashik corridor.

The new alignment represents a major step in Maharashtra's infrastructure development, linking two major metropolitan regions while supporting tourism, education, and industrial growth in line with India's vision of modern, future-ready transportation.