The Maharashtra government will constitute an expert panel to reassess the proposed Pune Nashik semi high speed rail alignment, reopening debate over a corridor seen as critical to regional mobility and industrial expansion. The review, announced in the state legislature, comes amid objections to an alternative route and concerns linked to a globally significant scientific installation along the original alignment.
The Pune Nashik semi high speed rail project is designed to strengthen connectivity between two of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing urban economies. Envisioned as a catalyst for industrial development and logistics integration, the corridor aims to reduce travel time, improve freight efficiency and support planned industrial clusters between the two cities. However, the initial alignment encountered resistance due to its proximity to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope facility near Narayangaon, an internationally recognised research installation. Central authorities flagged the scientific sensitivity of the site, leading to approval of a revised alignment via Ahilyanagar and Shirdi. That shift triggered opposition from elected representatives and residents in towns such as Sinnar and Sangamner, who argue that bypassing their region could dilute anticipated economic gains.
According to senior state officials, the Detailed Project Report was prepared by the state’s rail infrastructure agency and submitted for central consideration. The revised route reflects national concerns over potential electromagnetic interference with the telescope array, which supports global astronomical research collaborations. The newly proposed expert committee will examine whether engineering interventions, including the creation of a scientifically compliant buffer zone, could allow parts of the original alignment to be reconsidered without compromising the telescope’s operations. The panel is expected to submit findings within three to four months, after which a policy decision will be taken during the budget session.
Urban transport analysts note that the Pune Nashik semi high speed rail link carries implications beyond passenger movement. The corridor is expected to anchor an industrial belt spanning auto manufacturing, agro-processing and emerging clean technology clusters. Reliable intercity rail can lower logistics costs, attract private investment and reduce dependence on road freight, thereby cutting emissions along a heavily trafficked highway stretch. At the same time, infrastructure planners caution that route selection must balance economic aspirations with environmental and scientific safeguards. High-speed or semi high speed systems require precise alignment to ensure safety, operational viability and minimal ecological disruption.
For Maharashtra, the challenge lies in aligning regional development objectives with national scientific priorities. As urbanisation intensifies across the Pune Nashik growth axis, transport infrastructure decisions will shape land use, industrial siting and carbon outcomes for decades. The forthcoming technical review is therefore not merely an alignment exercise but a test of how infrastructure planning can reconcile innovation, sustainability and equitable regional growth in a rapidly evolving state economy.
Pune Nashik Rail Alignment Under Review
