Pune-Nashik High-Speed Rail Re-Routed to Boost Tourism, Industry, and Pilgrim Connectivity in Maharashtra

The Pune-Nashik high-speed rail project will follow a new alignment via Chakan Industrial Estate, Ahilyanagar, Puntamba, Sainagar Shirdi, and Nashik. The change avoids the GMRT area, enhances connectivity, supports tourism, and strengthens industrial logistics.

Pune | December 4, 2025:The proposed Pune-Nashik high-speed railway line, connecting Maharashtra’s key economic and cultural centers, has been rerouted following concerns over the original GMRT alignment. The new path will pass through Pune (via Chakan Industrial Estate), Ahilyanagar, Nimbalak, Puntamba, Pimpalgaon, Sainagar Shirdi, and Nashik, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The rerouting was necessary to protect the International Astronomical Observatory at Khodad, as the original route could interfere with telescope operations. After consultations with the Departments of Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, state authorities, and local experts, the new alignment was finalized.

Officials say the revised route will accelerate industrial, educational, and tourism growth. Pilgrimage and tourist sites such as Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, and Pandharpur will enjoy improved accessibility. Pune’s historic forts and Peshwa heritage landmarks will also benefit, while rural tourism and local handicraft markets are expected to flourish along the corridor.

The Chakan Industrial Estate, a major manufacturing hub, will now lie at the center of this route, offering significant logistical benefits. Businesses can expect reduced transportation costs, faster freight movement, and new investment opportunities for MSMEs and supply-chain clusters, further bolstering Maharashtra’s industrial landscape.

Work is progressing on multiple sections: Puntamba-Nimbalak doubling (80 km) is complete, Nimbalak-Ahilyanagar (6 km) is underway, and the DPR for the Ahilyanagar-Pune (133 km) double line has been prepared, estimated at ₹8,970 crore. Additionally, ₹240 crore has been approved for doubling the Sainagar Shirdi-Puntamba stretch (17 km), and work on Nashik Road-Sainagar Shirdi is ongoing.

Officials highlight that the rerouted high-speed rail line will offer faster, safer, and more convenient travel for passengers, while acting as a catalyst for tourism, trade, and industrial growth in the region.

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