The Pune-Nashik semi high-speed railway project has been realigned to bypass the GMRT Observatory in Narayangaon, after concerns were raised about potential interference with its operations.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the new route in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. The revised alignment will now pass through Ahilyanagar and Shirdi before reaching Nashik, instead of the original route via Sinnar, Sangamner, Narayangaon, and Chakan.

Minister Vaishnaw explained that the decision was made after consultations with various stakeholders, including state government officials and local representatives. He emphasised that the new route is only slightly longer in distance and time but offers several advantages, such as better connectivity to the Chakan industrial area and important cultural sites like Shirdi.