Railway route debate hits LS

ROUTE ROW | MP Kolhe questions minister on Nashik—Pune line diversion

- FPJ News Network

The controversy over the decision to divert the Nashik-Pune Semi High Speed Railway Line instead of routing it via Sinnar— Sangamner-Narayangaon reached Parliament on Wednesday.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP from Shirur, Dr Amol Kolhe, raised a direct question to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha on Dec 3, 2025. Kolhe objected to the diversion on the grounds that it would pose a threat to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and cited examples of radio telescopes and railway lines running together in 15 countries.

Dr Kolhe said, “15 countries like Germany, Australia, Japan, France, Poland, Finland, Canada, New Zealand and others have radio telescopes and railway lines together. So why not India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?” He demanded the formation of a tripartite technical committee involving the Ministry of Railways, Department of Atomic Energy and National Centre for Radio Astrophysics to study the issue and submit a report to Parliament.