Now Reading: Thousands protest, MLC held over Nashik-Pune rail route change
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Thousands protest, MLC held over Nashik-Pune rail route change
Thousands of protesters blocked the Nashik-Pune highway on Sunday against a proposed change to the semi-high-speed railway route. MLC Satyajeet Tambe, who led the protest at Sinnar, was detained by police. Traffic…
The Story in Brief
Thousands of protesters blocked the Nashik-Pune highway on Sunday against a proposed change to the semi-high-speed railway route. MLC Satyajeet Tambe, who led the protest at Sinnar, was detained by police. Traffic was disrupted on the Samruddhi Expressway and other roads as demonstrators demanded the original alignment via Sangamner and Narayangaon be retained.
The government had proposed an alternative route via Shirdi over concerns that the original line could interfere with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has formed a four-member expert committee under former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar to study the issue. Protesters insist the committee's 60-day deadline must not be extended, and that public dialogues be held across talukas.
The Indian Opinion
This protest underscores a familiar pattern: grand project plans changed overnight with little public consultation. Both the original route's land acquisition (over Rs 500 crore already spent) and the GMRT's scientific sensitivity are real constraints. The government must not hide behind a panel's technical jargon to silence people. The Kakodkar committee's report, due in 60 days, will be the real test: will it address both the telescope's safety and the local demand, or merely justify a pre-decided detour?
Sources (2): indiatoday.in, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
