**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1816, addressed on July 30, 2025, regarding railway infrastructure and sensitive radio astronomy observatories, the Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting, and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed concerns about the proposed Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail corridor's proximity to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune.
The Minister acknowledged the importance of protecting radio astronomy sites from interference, emphasizing that these sites are strategically located to minimize such interference. The initial Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MRIDC), a joint venture between the Government of Maharashtra (50%) and the Ministry of Railways (50%), proposed an alignment that passed through Narayangaon, the location of the GMRT observatory. However, this alignment was deemed unacceptable due to the potential adverse impact on the GMRT's operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the country's railway transport.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Amol Ramsing Kolhe: A member of parliament who raised the question about railway infrastructure and radio astronomy observatories.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Pune-Nashik: A route for a proposed semi-highspeed rail corridor in Maharashtra, India.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope GMRT: A radio telescope observatory located near Pune, Maharashtra, India.
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics NCRA: An institution under Department of Atomic Energy that has installed Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope GMRT observatory.
Government of Maharashtra: The state government of Maharashtra, India, with a 50% stake in MRIDC.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1816
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SENSITIVE RADIO ASTRONOMY
OBSERVATORY
1816. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether there are successful international examples of coexistence
between railway infrastructure and sensitive radio astronomy
observatories;
(b) if so, the details of technical solutions, shielding technologies, and
regulatory frameworks adopted globally to mitigate Radio Frequency
Interference (RFI) and protect astronomical research;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the concerns regarding the
proposed Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail corridor’s proximity to the Giant
Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether similar engineering and scientific safeguards can be adapted
for this corridor to ensure GMRT’s operational integrity, if so, the details
thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to conduct a detailed technical and
financial evaluation of such mitigation strategies through a structured
expert committee, in coordination with the Department of Atomic Energy,
Department of Science & Technology, and the National Centre for Radio
Astrophysics (NCRA), if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): The protection from interference is essential to the advancement
of radio astronomy and associated measurements. Radio astronomy sitesare chosen specifically to minimize interference from Earth based
transmitters. The sites are usually at a considerable distance from the
major fixed sources of terrestrial interference to make it as free as
possible from interference. So radio astronomy observatories are placed in
remote locations that have good natural protection from interference.
For connectivity between Pune and Nashik, DPR was prepared by MRIDC, a
Joint Venture company of Government of Maharashtra (50%) and Ministry
of Railways (50%). The proposed alignment in the DPR was passing
through Narayangaon where National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
(NCRA), Pune has installed Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT)
observatory. This alignment was not found acceptable due to adverse
impact of proposed railway line on operation of the GMRT observatory.
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