Pune: The Pune-Nashik the railway line, which has been under discussion for several years, has been given priority by the Maharashtra state government. With the commissioning of the Pune-Nashik semi-high speed dual carriageway, the distance between the two cities can be reached in less than two hours.
The Pune-Nashik high-speed railway project will pass through three districts namely Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar. The state government is trying to further develop the Mumbai-Pune-Nashik triangular belt so the people can take benefit of it. At present the travel time between the two cities which takes a maximum time of six hours' journey. Railway officials have assured that the project could be completed in four years without any hindrance.
Maharashtra Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and MahaRail presented the Pune-Nashik Semi High-Speed Railway Project at a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at Rs 13,700 crore and other expenses including land acquisition at around Rs 16,000 crore. The state government will have a 20 per cent share and the railways will have a 20 per cent share. The remaining 60 per cent will be raised by financial institutions. Railways will also need the cooperation of the state government in land acquisition. The construction work of this project will provide direct and indirect employment to 25,000 people.
The Pune and Nashik are leading cities in industrial and agricultural development. The Pune-Nashik Semi High-Speed Railway Project will be useful for connecting these two smart cities. The project will accelerate the development of tourism, education, agriculture, business, and industry in the three districts of Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik. This project will save a lot of time in Pune-Nashik travel time. This distance will be cut in two and a half hours.
STRENGTH FOR AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
If the long-stalled Nashik-Pune Expressway project comes to fruition in time, a lucrative option connecting the two industrial cities will be available. Rail transport is cheaper than road transport. It will benefit all sectors including industries, agriculture, and wine. Nashik's connection with South India will be expanded. Although the four-lane of Nashik-Pune road is in progress, the work is stop at some stage. There is a huge traffic jam between Rajgurunagar area near Khed and Pune. Due to the Nashik-Pune railway line, passengers can get rid of it.
On behalf of Maharail, the state government has decided to complete the Pune-Nashik railway project in four years. The blankets of the Nashik-Pune railway line have been soaked for a long time. To date, the budget has been limited to the provision of a railway survey. This route has been surveyed several times. The report was submitted. However, the train did not move any further. Nashik, Pune is the hub of the automotive industry. Agricultural production was abundant in both areas.
There is a large network of food processing industries. Entrepreneurial organisations, associations, people's representatives, and travel associations were pursuing to connect these cities by rail. The high-speed railway project will be as useful for Ahmednagar as it is for Nashik and Pune.
This will reduce the distance between Nashik and Pune in two and a half hours. Currently, this train journey takes about six hours. At the urging of the passengers, a few years ago, the Railways started the Nashik-Pune Hutatma Express. The train travels through Kalyan, Panvel, Karjat. Since this journey takes a long time, it does not get much response from the passengers traveling as by road the journey is for four to five hours. The direct rail line will put an end to the current tedious train journey.
The Nashik-Pune the railway line has been pursued for many years. The Chakan and Sinnar industrial areas will be connected by this railway line. A pollution free system of cheap industrial goods will be available. This route will be important to connect Nashik with South India. Areas up to Sinnar, Sangamner, Chakan will be developed.
