Rail ministry did not approve new Pune-Nashik route: Minister

Maharashtra Government today told the state Legislative Council that the Railway Ministry has not given its green signal to the new Pune-Nashik rail route.
Discussion on rail issues started after Amarsingh Pandit (NCP) moved the non-governmental motion in the Upper House on the pending railway projects in Marathwada region.
State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote assured the Legislative Council that he would arrange a meeting with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu with the members of the Council cutting across party lines to push the pending rail issues of Maharashtra.
Pandit urged the government to institute a special rail corporation for Marathwada region on the lines of Konkan Railway Corporation so that the state government can raise funds to go ahead with the development of railway routes in the region.

In a reply, Raote assured that if needed, the government would consider Pandit's suggestion.
He informed the House that he had visited Delhi three times to meet Suresh Prabhu.

"After continuous follow-ups with the Centre, Prabhu approved 12 projects in the state. However, the railway ministry has not approved the most-awaited Pune-Nashik rail route," Raote said.
He added that the Konkan region is connected with Western Maharashtra through the Karad-Chiplun new railway line.
"Railway ministry has approved the new line and we will hold the foundation stone ceremony of the project very soon," Raote said, adding, that Rs 1,200 crore have already been allocated in the rail budget for the project.

He also informed the House about the status of Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli railway route, Solapur-Beed and other ongoing works of railway routes in the state.
NCP's Hemant Takle suggested that railways can be used to transport water to the scarcity-hit regions.
Manikrao Thakre of Congress demanded that the government forms a Rail Corporation for the Marathwada region.