Pune-Nashik railway alignment row: Protesters block highway, demand original route

A massive protest over the proposed change in the alignment of the PuneNashik Semi HighSpeed Railway project brought traffic to a halt at several points along the PuneNashik Highway on Sunday with citizens demanding that the original route be retainedThe agitation held on Kranti Din stretched from Chakan to Sinnar with protesters clashing with police at some locations Police personnel removed demonstrators from the carriageway and detained several activists to prevent the highway from being completely blockedIn Nashik district thousands gathered at Gonde Phata in Sinnar under the leadership of MLA Satyajit Tambe and MP Rajabhau Waje Protesters also blocked the Samruddhi MahamargThe protests are against the changing of the original alignment of the proposed railway line The concerns are that the original route could affect the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope GMRT at Khodad in JunnarWhy residents want the original routeThe original alignment is planned through Pune rarr Chakan rarr Rajgurunagar rarr Manchar rarr Narayangaon rarr Alephata rarr Sangamner rarr Sinnar rarr NashikResidents and local leaders say the direct line would bring better rail connectivity to the towns along the route and boost industry agriculture education and employment Tambe said the project had been pending for decadesldquoThe railway project was not merely a transportation issue but was directly linked to the development of Nashik Ahilyanagar and Pune districts For the last 25 years we have been hearing that the NashikPune railway will become a reality Late Suresh Kalmadi had also made efforts when he was a Union minister In recent months the project had made significant progress but political obstacles have caused it to stall againrdquo he saidRs 500 crore already paid for landTambe said land acquisition had already been carried out for the original route through Sinnar Sangamner Narayangaon Rajgurunagar Manchar and Chakan ldquoIf the original railway route is cancelled now the administration may ask farmers to return the compensation amount The government has already paid nearly 500 crore for land acquisition Changing the alignment at the tender stage is highly unreasonable and has further delayed the projectrdquo he saidGMRT at the centre of the disputeThe original alignment reportedly passes near the GMRT observatory at Khodad Authorities are examining whether railway operations could interfere with the radio telescopeAn alternative alignment is reportedly being considered through Nashik rarr Shirdi rarr Puntamba rarr Ahilyanagar rarr ChakanSurveys for the revised route have reportedly begun adding to the anger among residents along the original alignmentMahajan steps inDuring the Sinnar protest Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan called Tambe and urged him to withdraw the agitationAccording to Tambe Mahajan said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state government were trying to find a solution acceptable to all stakeholdersTambe however insisted that the expert committee headed by senior scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar should submit its report within the stipulated 60 days without seeking an extensionThe protesters also want the government to hold public hearings and gram sabhas in every affected taluka and village before taking a final decisionFollowing the intervention and discussions with officials the Sinnar agitation was temporarily suspendedChakan sees allparty protestA separate demonstration was held at Talegaon Chowk in Chakan under the leadership of Khed MLA Babaji Kale with leaders from different political parties joining the protestPolice deployed heavy security and warned that the PuneNashik Highway would not be allowed to remain blockedKale said the Rs 16000crore project was originally planned along the PunendashChakanndashRajgurunagarndashMancharndashNarayangaonndashAlephatandashSangamnerndashSinnarndashNashik routeHe said concerns over the GMRT had led the Railway Ministry to consider the alternative route through Nashik Shirdi Puntamba Ahilyanagar and ChakanKale alleged that the uncertainty had angered residents of Khed Ambegaon Junnar Sangamner and Sinnar and criticised the Union government and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over the delay