Pune: Amid the Centre’s in-principle nod to the Pune-Nashik High-Speed Rail project, the Giant Microwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near the observation antenna here has monitored the continuous movement of trains on the route, affecting the science hub. Concern has been expressed about the possibility of obstruction in the work. When a senior official of the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (Maharail) was contacted in this regard, he told PTI that necessary precautions will be taken and all issues will be resolved. GMRT operates on 150-1420 Hz and is located at Khodad, about 80 km from Pune. It carries 30 antennas of 45 m in diameter each and is operated by the National Center for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the Ministry of Railways has approved the Pune-Nashik high-speed rail project ‘in principle’. This will give a boost to the development of industrial areas of these two cities and will ensure unhindered movement between them. GMRT source told PTI that the route selected for this high-speed rail project passes through Narayangaon and it is within a 15 km radius of the antenna of this center and some are very close to the antenna.
He said that the route of this rail project is less than one kilometer from an antenna. “The entire route is going to be extremely dangerous for the reason (GMRT operations) because when a high-speed electric train passes, its pantograph (a device mounted on top of it to conduct electric current to move the train) has high capacity,” the source said. touches the lead wire and .. the sparks that come out during this release undesirable radiation.”
NCRA director Yashwant Gupta said that the center has ‘started talks’ with railway officials in this regard’. On the other hand, Maharail’s Managing Director Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal said that railway officials have held talks with GMRT officials and when the actual work of the rail line starts, precautions will be taken and all issues will be resolved.
