The long-awaited Manmad–Indore railway line project is gaining traction, as the Nashik district administration has appointed Deputy Collector Ravindra Bharade as the land acquisition officer. This development will expedite the process for acquiring land required for the new railway tracks.

The proposed direct rail connection between Manmad and Indore, spanning 309 km, will significantly reduce travel time compared to the current route of over 550 km. This will enable faster access to the Mumbai port, benefiting both cities economically.

A senior railway officer confirmed that the railway line will cover approximately 139 km in Maharashtra, including 60 km through the Malegaon and Nandgaon talukas of Nashik. The appointment of a land acquisition officer is expected to speed up the necessary procedures.

For the project, around 187 hectares of land in the Nandgaon and Malegaon talukas will be required. Once railway officials submit their demand for land, joint surveys with local farmers will take place, providing a clearer picture of the land needed.

The Rs 18,000 crore railway project received approval from the central government in September and is a key part of the PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity. The project will pass through two districts in Maharashtra and four in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting its priority for the government.

Notably, the original survey for this railway line was conducted by the British in 1908. Despite being a topic during parliamentary elections, previous governments had failed to take any meaningful steps towards its approval.