Railway Minister confirms GMRT will remain in place for Pune-Nashik project

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on January 11, 2025, that the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) will not be relocated for the Pune-Nashik railway project. Instead, the project will require a change in alignment. Researchers had raised concerns about potential disruptions to GMRT's operations due to the railway project. Vaishnaw emphasized that relocating the telescope would weaken India's scientific capabilities. The minister outlined two alternative alignments for the railway project. One option involves a route towards the Arabian Sea, while the other follows the existing Manmad-Ahilyanagar route. The team is currently evaluating these options.