Pune: The Ministry of Railways has canceled the proposed alignment for the Pune-Nashik Semi-High-Speed Railway as it would have disrupted the operations of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Narayangaon.

A new alignment will now be planned to ensure the GMRT remains unaffected. The revised route will be considered starting directly from Pune.

The initial Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Pune-Nashik Semi-High-Speed Rail Corridor was prepared by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail) and had received state government approval. It was subsequently sent to the Railway Board for final approval.

However, the proposed alignment raised concerns as the GMRT, which operates in an area spanning 563,000 square feet and houses 30 telescopes measuring 45 meters each, falls within the proposed route. The GMRT is an international collaborative project involving scientists from 23 countries, making its relocation impractical.

Recognizing the importance of protecting this world-class facility, the Ministry of Railways decided to cancel the proposed alignment. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the decision, stating that a new route will be explored to ensure the GMRT is not affected.

The Pune-Nashik Semi-High-Speed Rail Corridor is expected to boost connectivity and economic growth between the two cities. However, the new route will be carefully planned to avoid interference with the GMRT and other sensitive areas.

Key Features of GMRT:

• Operational over 563,000 square feet.

• Comprises 30 telescopes, each 45 meters in diameter.

• Involves participation from India and 23 other countries.