Pune, 20 April 2026: The Pune railway division is planning a major infrastructure upgrade by setting up a new coach maintenance depot at Alandi on the Pune–Satara route, with an estimated cost of ₹97 crore. The proposal is currently under review and is expected to receive approval from the railway board soon.
The planned facility will be capable of handling the daily cleaning, maintenance, and repair of around 100 coaches. This includes modern LHB coaches as well as Vande Bharat Express train sets, aligning with efforts to modernize railway operations.
Railway officials say the decision is driven by space constraints and rising land costs in Pune. The existing Ghorpadi Coach Maintenance Complex (GCMC), located near Pune railway station, currently services about 300 coaches daily and is already operating under heavy pressure.
With more trains expected to originate from Pune in the coming years, the load on GCMC is set to increase further. Shifting maintenance activities to Alandi is expected to ease congestion and improve operational efficiency.
Under the proposed model, Pune railway station will primarily be used for passenger movement, boarding and alighting, while maintenance operations will be moved to the Alandi depot. This approach is inspired by efficient railway systems seen in countries like Japan.
The Alandi facility will include three maintenance pit lines, each 600 metres long, where coaches will undergo servicing. Additionally, two stabling lines will be built for parking trains when not in use.
A dedicated sick line will also be part of the depot, allowing defective coaches to be separated from train formations and repaired without disrupting operations.
By decentralizing maintenance operations, the new depot is expected to streamline train handling in Pune, reduce turnaround time, and support the growing demand for rail services in the region.
