The project is being developed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), a 50:50 joint venture between the government of Maharashtra and India’s Ministry of Railways, and has already received approval from the Central Railway. The scheme is now awaiting approval of the detailed project report from the Maharashtra government.
The 1676mm-gauge line will reduce the travel time between Pune and Nashik to 1h 45min, and will be designed to accommodate a future upgrade to 250km/h operation.
The line will provide a connection to important industrial zones including Alandi, Chakan, Khed, Manchar, Narayangaon, Sinnar and Satpur. The project will also include the construction of a private freight terminal (PFT), dry port, multimodal and commercial hub, warehouses and sidings.
Construction is expected to take just over three years to complete, and MRIDC plans to invite private investors to help finance the project.
The line will begin at a new elevated station in Pune, which will also feature a commercial complex and transport hub, before running along an elevated corridor to Hadapsar. The line will then run at grade from Hadapsar to Nashik Road station.
Services will initially operate with six-car EMUs, before increasing to 12-car and 16-car trains.
The project is expected to reduce the number of car journeys along the route, as well as increasing employment and reducing pollution.
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