Nashik: The Maharashtra Railway Infrastructure Development Limited (MRIDL) is currently revising the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Pune–Nashik rail link that will link both the stations with a new 248-km railway link.“The DPR made earlier is being revised by MRIDL and it proposes a 248-km link, promising tracks from Nashik Road Railway station to Pune Railway station instead of the 214-km track as proposed by the Indian Railways earlier. That track started from Talegaon till Nashik Road station,” a senior official from MRIDL — a joint venture between Govt of Maharashtra and Ministry of Railways, started in August 2017 — saidThe MRIDL plans to construct double line with speed potential of up to 200 km instead of 120 km. “The new proposal is not only likely to draw more number of trains to the shorter route between North and South, but at the same time high speed travel will also attract more number of passengers to the route,” the official said, adding that the Engineering and Traffic Survey is being carried out which will contribute for significant change in the DPR.“The travel time will be cut down by 2 hours and it will bring in more trains, thus more revenue to the region. The new route will bring the north-south link even closer,” Member of Parliament from Junnar Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil said.Currently the cost of construction of the single track Talegaon-Nashik Road 214-km-link is estimated at the cost of Rs 4,100 crore. Instead, the link till Pune railway station is likely to cost Rs 5,300 crore and the double-line link is estimated to cost Rs 6,700 crore.Over the need to re-survey the project, sources said, “The re-survey, taking into consideration higher speed and double-line, is likely to push up the rate of returns (RoR) from 4.11% to 12% taking into consideration development of station areas, solar energy generation, reduction in travel time, carbon credit. Besides, the Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) will also be more than 12% considering the saving in time, vehicle cost, reduction in pollution, accidents, saving greenhouse gas emissions, etc.”He added, “The MRIDL will carry out the project with funds from Railways and government of Maharashtra along with debt component from domestic and international financial institutions. Local beneficiaries desirous to participate in the project through equity were also being considered. The better rate of returns, the better will be the investment prospects.”After financial closure, the project will be completed and commissioned in the three and half years of time. “At this point of time we feel the project is likely to be commissioned in the year 2021,” the officer said.

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