Rs 16 039-crore Pune-Nashik rail line project gets nod

    Pune, Jun 4 (PTI) The much-awaited Pune-Nashik rail
line project has received approval from the Railway ministry,
paving the way for connecting the two key industrial cities of
Maharashtra that will give boost to fast movement of goods and
people, state-run firm MRIDC said on Thursday.
    Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development
Corporation Ltd (MRIDC) said it has received approval from the
Railways for implementing the 'greenfield semi-high-speed
broad gauge double' line between the two cities, located
around 200km apart, a project that will cost Rs 16,039 crore.
    MRIDC (also known as MahaRail) will be implementing
the project, which had been pending approval for long.
    "This semi-high-speed double line will provide direct
connectivity between Pune and Nashik and the journey between
the two cities will be completed in less than two hours.
    "MRIDC has planned and designed to run the Pune-Nashik
broad gauge rail line with the commercial speed of 200km/hr
with future increment up to 250 km/hr," the corporation said
in a release.
    Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal, Managing Director, MahaRail,
said this project will not only attract goods trains but also
high-speed passenger trains. (Once completed) The travel time
from Pune to Nashik will be completed in 1 hour and 45
minutes."
    MahaRail has also planned to develop private freight
terminal (PFT), dry port, multimodal and commercial hub,
warehouses and sidings at locations suggested by local
industries, he said.
    As the Pune-Nashik belt has a large number of
industries, the project will open a new source of revenue for
them by fast-track movements of cargo as important MIDC areas
such as Chakan, Sinnar and Satpur will be directly connected
by this rail line, the release said.
    The Railway line will pass through three districts of
Maharashtra - Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik - providing
seamless connectivity to industrial zones of Pune and Nashik
such as Alandi, Chakan, Khed, Manchar, Narayangaon, Sinnar and
Satpur, said the release.
    The entire cost of the project has been pegged at Rs
16,039 crore. MRIDC shall invite equity partners to
participate in the project, it said.
    "Once necessary approvals aregranted from Government
of Maharashtra, the project is estimated to be completed in
1,200 days from the date of financial closure," the release
said.
    It said the rail line will augment revenues from multi
-fold industries like automobile, machineries, electronics,
pharmaceuticals, sugar mills and other agricultural activities
around the project influence regions.
    Passengers of varied travel purposes such as tourism,
educations, agricultural and as well as business and daily
shuttles will have ample facilities to connect with the rest
of the country, the release added. PTI SPK
RSY RSY

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)