NASHIK: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday has approved doubling of Manmad-Daund railway line expected to cost Rs 2,330.51 core at the time of completion five years now."The cabinet committee has sanctioned the doubling of the 247.5 km route between Daund (near Pune on Mumbai - Solapur route) and Manmad (near Nashik on Mumbai - Bhusawal route)," a senior official of Bhusawal division informed.The doubling will not only bring in more passenger and freight movement between the stations and bring in more revenue for the Railways but at the same will also cut down on travel time as well."The primary benefit of doubling of line will increase the numbers of trains connecting North and South of the country and will also allow more passengers to reach Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur - places of pilgrimage - faster and earlier. This will further reduce the pressure on Kalyan and Mumbai routes," the officer added.This facility will also allow more time for the maintenance of the trains and tracks as well and increase in the safety aspect as well.The current industrial establishments in Pune will therefore be directly connected to the northern parts of the country and the couple of passengers trains can also run through the route allow people from these areas a better access to the other regions of the country.Currently Daund - Manmad line is the only link between the North and the South from Maharashtra other than already very congested Mumbai Division which has its own priorities of commuter trains.The project will bring in employment of 59.40 lakh man days that will largely benefit people from Nashik, Ahmednagar and Pune districts.The current usage of the track is 156 percent which is way beyond. Currently the work of doubling of lines between Bhigwan and Mohol, Hotgi-Gulberga on Mumbai - Chennai route is going on and once this is complete the Daund-Manmad section will be a missing link in case of development and hence this has been taken up.The work costing Rs 2,081.27 crore has been sanctioned and is expected to begin at once. It is expected that the work will be completed in five years of time, the official said.

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