Does a Nashik weekend getaway sound good, but a bit too far from Pune Here&rsquos some good news. The Maharashtra government has announced plans for a semi-high speed train between Pune and Nashik that will reduce the journey of six to seven hours to only two hours. Taking the ooportunity to revive the economy after the pandemic, the state government has already started acquiring land for this 233 km rail project.
This long-pending project will not only boost passenger and freight movement but also facilitate the creation of a Mumbai-Pune-Nashik golden triangle and economic hub.
In all, about 1,470 hectares of land will be required in Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts, as the rail line would pass through 112.10 km in Pune, 58 km in Ahmednagar and 63.75 km in Nashik. Around 575 hectares has to be acquired in Pune&rsquos Haveli, Junnar and Ambegaion tehsils.
Billed as the first low-cost semi-high speed corridor in the country, the 233-km-long line would cost Rs 16,039 crore and see trains running at a speed of 200kmph, with its design allowing for an upgrade to 250kmph in the future.
Special broad gauge lines will be set up by the MRIDC, starting at the Pune railway station and terminating at Nashik railway station. There would also be multimodal hubs at major railway stations along the route, ensuring connectivity to bus terminuses, metro stations and freight terminals.