Thousands of protesters staged traffic blockades across the Nashik-Pune highway on August 9, 2026, demanding the government retain the proposed Nashik-Pune semi-high-speed railway route through Sangamner and Narayangaon instead of a new route via Shirdi.

The original proposal passed 9 km from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescopes (GMRT) facility, raising concerns of potential interference. An alternative route via Shirdi has been proposed subsequently.

Over ₹500 crore has been disbursed in land acquisition for the original route.

Blockades were staged across Chakan, Khed, Manchar, Narayangaon, Alephata, Sangamner, Gonde Phata on the Samruddhi Expressway, and Sinnar.

MLC Satyajeet Tambe was detained by police. He stated the primary demand is that the 60-day deadline granted to a four-member committee (headed by former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar) must not be extended, and a decision must be reached within 60 days. The committee also comprises Divisional Commissioners of Nashik and Pune and Railway Board officials.

Tambe called for public dialogues in every taluka to understand public sentiment.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced the revised route via Ahilyanagar and Shirdi with detailed project report ready. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will set up expert committee to study feasibility of original route via Sangamner and Narayangaon after MLAs from Pune, Nashik and Ahilyanagar, led by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dilip Walse Patil, met him in Mumbai. Original route was via Sangamner, Narayangaon, Manchar and Rajgurunagar but was altered due to concerns about impact on protected radio-silence zone of Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Narayangaon. MLAs argued original alignment would boost agriculture, industry, trade and travel across three districts. MLA Amol Khatal said alignment could be altered by 12–15 km near Narayangaon without impacting GMRT functioning. Original route would reduce travel time between Pune and Nashik; revised route would increase it. Local administrations in Nashik and Ahilyanagar had begun land acquisition in Sinnar and Sangamner. MLAs also opposed proposed Rahuri–Shani Shingnapur rail route due to requirement to acquire highly fertile land and existing highway connectivity.

The Sangamner and Sinnar local action committee headed by Nashik division Graduate Constituency MLC Satyajeet Tambe announced a rasta roko stir on June 29 to demand the proposed Pune-Nashik rail route via Sangamner and Narayangaon.

Railways initially planned a semi-high-speed rail project via Sangamner but scrapped it citing technical issues related to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced the route would instead be via Shirdi and Ahilyanagar, with a Detailed Project Report prepared on the new alignment.

Tambe stated the agitation aims to pressure Railways to stick to the original route via Sangamner and Narayangaon. The action committee plans to stage a rasta roko at Sinnar on June 29, blocking movement on the Pune-Nashik highway and Nashik-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway.

Tambe argued that rail connectivity via Sangamner would propel economic development in Sangamner, Narayangaon, and Manchar.

Nashik district administration requested the action committee to avoid blocking the highway and expressway, noting both thoroughfares are extremely busy. Nashik district collector Ayush Prasad said agitation should not inconvenience motorists.