With the existing road traffic saturated, there is hope for faster rail journeys between Mumbai and Pune. The government is working to revive the late 1990s plan for the construction of third and fourth lines between Lonavala and Pune, which would take the load off the main line, allowing faster connectivity between two major cities.

At a review meeting with railway officials, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday asked them to work out revised estimates and get fresh approvals from the Railway Board so that the state government could take the project ahead.