Railway Ministry Approves New Alignment for Pune–Nashik Semi-High Speed Rail, Bypassing GMRT Zone via Ahilyanagar–Shirdi
Railway
Newly approved Pune–Nashik semi-high-speed rail corridor will bypass the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), rerouting via Ahilyanagar–Shirdi. 235 km route with estimated ₹16,000 crore cost aims to halve travel time.
Nashik / Pune|December 5, 2025: The proposed Pune–Nashik semi-high-speed rail project has received a revised route plan from the Ministry of Railways, choosing to bypass the GMRT observatory to avoid interference with its sensitive scientific operations.The new corridor alignment now runs from Pune → via the industrial zone near Chakan → Ahilyanagar → then to Sainagar Shirdi, Puntamba, Nimblak, and finally Nashik. This adjustment replaces the earlier plan that passed near the GMRT site.
According to the updated Detailed Project Report (DPR), the total rail line will span roughly 235–236 km and include 24 stations 13 major and 11 minor with plans for a dual-track, semi-high-speed broad-gauge line. Estimated cost of the project stands near ₹16,000 crore, and once completed, travel time between Pune and Nashik is expected to reduce significantly potentially to around 2 hours.
Work on key stretches has already commenced or been approved. The doubling of the line from Sainagar Shirdi to Puntamba (17 km) has been sanctioned with ₹240 crore funding, while the section between Puntamba–Nimblak (≈80 km) is reportedly complete. The Nimblak–Ahilyanagar stretch is under active construction.The DPR for the Pune–Ahilyanagar segment has also been finalized.
Officials emphasize that rerouting is essential to preserve the integrity of the GMRT a world-class radio-astronomy facility which might have been adversely impacted by the previously proposed alignment.
Bypassing the GMRT also avoids legal and environmental complications, while the new route promises enhanced connectivity, industrial development, and stronger links between Pune, Nashik, Shirdi, and surrounding regions. If funding and clearance proceed uninterrupted, authorities expect the project to be completed in approximately three to four years.
