The global astronomy community using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune can heave a sigh of relief, as the world-class facility will no longer face any direct threat from the operations of originally proposed semi-high speed rail line connecting Pune-Nashik.
Operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), the GMRT in Pune is one-of-its-kind scientific facility, operating in low frequency.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday, in his reply to a question from NCP-SP member Dr Amol Ramsingh Kolhe, informed LS that the rail line will be built as per the new DPR prepared by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (MRIDC).
In February 2023, Ministry had first given its “in-principle” approval to original DPR. After deliberations with Maharashtra government and Railway Ministry, Department of Atomic Energy advised the Ministry that the alignment was passing near GMRT Observatory, and “will have potential interference and harmful impact on its operations… this alignment was not found acceptable due to adverse impact on GMRT Observatory”, as per Vaishnaw’s reply.