Protests on Nashik-Pune highway against revised Nashik-Pune railway route

Protesters blocked traffic on the Nashik-Pune highway on August 9, 2026, demanding the government retain the original Nashik-Pune semi-high-speed railway route through Sangamner and Narayangaon. They opposed the newly proposed route via Shirdi. MLC Satyajeet Tambe, nephew of Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, was arrested during the demonstrations.

The original proposal passed through Narayangaon, which sits 9 km from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescopes (GMRT) facility. The new route was suggested to avoid potential interference with the GMRT.

Tambe claimed that a significant portion of the land acquisition process for the original route had already been completed, with over ₹500 crore disbursed. He stated that the protest was not a political stance of any single party but a mass public movement demanding the railway be built along the proposed original route. "We will not accept any attempt to alter the route under anyone's pressure or for any reason whatsoever," he declared.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had formed a four-member committee, led by former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar, to examine technical concerns regarding the initially proposed Nashik-Pune railway line through Narayangaon. The committee included Dr. Kakodkar, the Divisional Commissioners of Nashik and Pune, and Railway Board officials.

Tambe emphasized that the primary demand of the protesters is that the 60-day deadline provided to the committee should not be extended. "A clear decision must be reached within 60 days," he insisted. He also suggested that the committee should conduct public dialogues in each taluka to gauge the public's sentiment.