Pune-Lonavala additional railway track proposal stalled; expenditure increases by Rs 216 crore
Pune-Lonavala additional railway track proposal stalled; expenditure increases by Rs 216 crore
It has been four years since the first detailed project report for two additional tracks between Pune and Lonavala was proposed. The state government is still keeping the project stalled.
21 June 2024Â
Pune- It has been four years since the first Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the third and fourth line between Pune and Lonavala was submitted. The estimated cost of the project has increased from Rs 4,884 crore to Rs 5,100 crore over the past five years. Despite submitting two DPRs, the state government has yet to approve or fund the project, causing significant delays and cost overruns.
The project, which aims to add two new railway lines to the existing two on the Pune-Lonavala route, was supposed to be a joint effort between the state government as stated by the then chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). However, due to the state government’s inaction, the project has stalled. The proposed additional lines are vital to reducing train delays and increasing the overall capacity of the route, benefitting the large number of passengers traveling between Pune and Lonavala on a daily basis.
The revised DPR, estimating the project cost at Rs 5,100 crore, was submitted on July 4, 2023, but the railway ministry is still awaiting confirmation from the state government. While the existing routes between Pune and Lonavala are used for local purposes, the new lines will be utilized for mail, express, and goods trains, but this decision is yet to be finalized by the railway operating department. With 79 Pune-Mumbai running trains, 42 Pune-Lonavala locals, and over 1.5 lakh daily passengers, the need for additional rail capacity is evident.
