India, June 18 -- Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious roadmap to transform Pune into a major railway hub, announcing a series of infrastructure projects worth around Rs.600 crore that are expected to double the city's rail handling capacity and pave the way for introduction of 20 additional train services. Speaking at a function held at Pune railway station, where he flagged off the inaugural Pune-Sainagar Shirdi Express and laid the foundation stone for Pune Yard Remodelling and other railway infrastructure works, Vaishnaw said Pune's rapid growth and rising passenger demand necessitated large-scale expansion of railway facilities.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the event through video c...