Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the cancellation of the direct Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail line citing technical unfeasibility. A revised route has been sanctioned, connecting Pune-Ahilyanagar-Shirdi-Nashik, with work already in progress. This development is part of broader railway investments in Maharashtra, including freight corridors and enhancements to existing services, aiming to improve connectivity and capacity across the region.