Pune, 20 August 2025: After years of demand and follow-up, the Maharashtra government has finally approved the construction of the third and fourth railway lines on the Pune–Lonavala route. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, giving a major boost to suburban rail connectivity in the region.
The project will be jointly funded by the Centre and the State. The Union government had already expressed its willingness earlier, and with the State now granting its nod, work on the new tracks is set to move forward. This approval is seen as a significant step toward easing travel for thousands of daily commuters between Pune and Lonavala.
Currently, heavy passenger load and freight trains cause frequent congestion on the existing two lines. With the addition of the third and fourth tracks, suburban services are expected to increase, express trains will gain speed, and freight movement will no longer slow down passenger trains. This will particularly help office-goers, students, industrial workers, and business communities in Pune and the surrounding region.
Officials believe the project will also reduce pressure on road traffic by offering better and faster train services. The development is part of the wider modernization of Indian Railways being undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav pushing for rapid expansion of key routes.
For Pune, the approval of the third and fourth lines is being described as a long-awaited relief. Residents and commuters now hope that the next steps, from tendering to construction, will begin quickly so that the benefits reach people at the earliest.