The Maharashtra government has approved the allotment of 3 hectares and 12 gunthas of government land near Yamai Lake in Pandharpur to the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee. The land will be used to create facilities for devotees visiting the temple and establish a Gomata conservation centre

The new service marks the first direct train connectivity between Pune and Sainagar Shirdi, a long-pending demand of devotees and tourists visiting the revered Saibaba shrine