The much-awaited Pune-Nashik semi-high speed rail line project has received approval from the Railway Ministry, paving the way for connecting two key industrial cities of Maharashtra. Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) has received approval from the Railways for implementing the greenfield semi- high-speed broad gauge double line between the two cities, around 200 km apart, in a project that is expected to cost Rs.160.39 bn. MRIDC will be implementing the project, which had been pending approval for long. Maha Rail also plans to develop a private freight terminal, dry port, multimodal and commercial hub, warehouses and sidings at locations suggested by local industries.Contact: Sanjay Kumar, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra.Address: Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Hutatma Rajguru Square, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 032.Tel: 022-2202 5151.E-mail: cm@maharashtra.gov.inWebsite: www.gad.maharashtra.gov.in