Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved recently the doubling of the 16.50 km Puntamba–Sainagar Shirdi rail line at an estimated cost of Rs 239.80 crore. The project falls under the 2024–25 Umbrella Work for Multitracking aimed at capacity augmentation across the Indian Railways network.
According to CR, doubling initiative is expected to significantly enhance rail infrastructure in the region and ease congestion on the existing line. Currently, the Puntamba–Sainagar Shirdi section operates at only 19.66% line capacity, which is projected to surge to 79.70% in the near future without doubling. The additional track will help accommodate this growing demand more efficiently.
The rail line serves one of India’s most important pilgrimage destinations—Shirdi, the abode of Sai Baba—which attracts lakhs of devotees every year. "The new project is set to further improve connectivity for pilgrims, regular passengers, students, traders, and farmers alike" said an official of CR.
In addition to easing passenger traffic, the project will also support the movement of agricultural produce and other goods to nearby markets, giving a boost to the local economy.
Simultaneously, the Final Location Survey for a new Pune–Nashik rail link—via Ahmednagar, Puntamba, Shirdi, and Nashik Road—is also underway. "This upcoming corridor is expected to open up new routes and enhance intercity connectivity between two prominent cities and religious hubs" further stated an official.
