A 66 km broad gauge line between New Ashti and Ahmednagar was inaugurated and a DEMU train service was flagged between the two stations in Maharashtra. The New Ashti-Ahmednagar broad gauge line is part of the 261-km Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli Vaijnath line project, which has been implemented on the basis of 50-50 cost sharing between the central and state governments.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde virtually attended the function via video link, while Deputy Prime Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve and other dignitaries attended the occasion.

Shinde said on the occasion that the railway will transform the Marathawada region. He further said that the state government is extending the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway to Gadchiroli-Bhandara.