The Central Railway has commissioned the Ghorpuri-Hadapsar third railway line in Pune, a project expected to improve train operations, increase capacity on the Pune-Daund route and reduce congestion at Pune railway station. The additional line will support the movement of passenger and freight trains while giving railway operators greater flexibility across the Pune network.
The line will provide a dedicated transfer route between the rake maintenance depot and the proposed Hadapsar Satellite Terminal. This will allow rake movements to take place without affecting operations on the up and down main lines, according to the Central Railway. The arrangement is also expected to support the introduction of new train services from Hadapsar.
Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, said the third line would function as an alternate shunting neck for rake formation, sorting, engine and brake-van reversal, and other shunting activities. These operations currently have implications for movements through the railway yard and main lines.
“Overall, it will help in decongestion of Pune station by facilitating transfer and operational activities through the Hadapsar Satellite Terminal,” Nila said in a statement.
The project involved substantial signalling, interlocking and track works at both Pune and Hadapsar. At Pune, railway authorities completed 32 new or altered routes, six new or altered point machines, nine new or altered signals and 11 new or altered tracks. At Hadapsar, the existing Kyosan K5D electronic interlocking system was altered, along with 28 new or altered routes, one new or altered point machine and six new or altered signals.
The works also included the replacement of insulated overlaps and section insulators, installation of new portals, provision of AC brackets in turnout areas and the installation of four DC track circuits. Around 900 metres of damaged contact wire was replaced, restoring the affected section’s speed potential from 75 kmph to 130 kmph.
Railway teams also carried out rail renewal, tamping, distressing, greasing, packing and welding works. The project was completed over 15 days using track relaying machines, Duomatic machines, Poclain machines, Hydra cranes, JCBs and gas-cutting equipment.
A total of 745 personnel were deployed for the work, including 485 contractual workers and 260 departmental staff. The immediate operational impact will be assessed through the movement of passenger and freight trains, the use of the Hadapsar terminal and the reduction of shunting-related detention on the main lines.
