Pune Nashik Highway Will Not Merge With Rail Route Original Plan Confirmed
Pune-Nashik Highway’s planned route will not be realigned to merge with the semi-high-speed rail corridor, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has officially confirmed. This decision follows a detailed report submitted last week, which concluded that significant technical and financial challenges make such a co-location unfeasible. The ruling sets aside earlier considerations to explore alternative alignments, which had emerged in response to protests from farmers and landowners affected by the originally proposed highway path.
Officials explained that the expressway and rail projects serve fundamentally different purposes, making a combined route impractical. The train is designed for rapid inter-city travel, while the industrial corridor aims to connect smaller towns, villages, and various industrial hubs, requiring distinct alignments to fulfill its objective. Furthermore, stringent railway regulations mandate a substantial buffer zone on both sides of the tracks, which would leave insufficient space to construct a parallel expressway. The MSRDC also emphasized that the cost implications of attempting to integrate these routes would be excessively high, reinforcing their recommendation for the approved plan.
The original 213-kilometer route remains the sole practical option for the Pune-Nashik industrial corridor. This established alignment includes a 135-kilometer stretch from Pune to Shirdi, a 52-kilometer link from Shirdi to Niphad that connects to the Surat-Chennai Expressway, and an 18-kilometer section from Niphad to Nashik. Despite previous state government requests to ease agricultural community concerns by exploring alternatives, the corporation maintains that adhering to the established plan is the most viable way forward for this crucial infrastructure project.
The final decision on proceeding with the Pune-Nashik industrial corridor now rests with the state government, awaiting its approval to advance to the next phase of development. Once completed, this corridor will become a vital component of Maharashtra’s extensive 4,200-kilometer highway network. It promises to slash travel time between Pune and Nashik from five hours to just two and a half hours, ensuring faster movement of goods and significantly boosting regional connectivity across the state. This strategic project is poised to enhance Maharashtra’s industrial and economic growth.
This commitment to the original highway plan highlights a focus on practical and efficient infrastructure development. While addressing initial concerns, the state prioritizes projects that enhance regional connectivity and economic corridors, balancing public input with technical and financial viability for long-term benefits across Maharashtra.
