The Maharashtra government has constituted a high level expert committee led by former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar to examine the impact of the proposed Pune-Nashik semi high speed railway alignment on the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at Khodad in Pune district. The panel will assess electromagnetic, operational and technical implications of both the original alignment and a revised route finalised by the Ministry of Railways. The decision follows concerns raised by the Department of Atomic Energy and scientific institutions regarding potential electromagnetic interference with sensitive astronomical observations.