Speaking to mediapersons at a press conference, Singh criticised the State government for investing hundreds of crores of rupees in the Pune-Mumbai expressway while the same purpose could be served by improving the "pathetic" rail service between the two cities at a relatively negligible cost.

Leading a scathing attack on the project, Singh alleged that besides disturbing the fragile ecosystem of the region, the highway would in no way solve the traffic congestion problem on the Mumbai-Pune sector, but would instead further complicate the traffic situation given its proclivity to fatal accidents.

"In the event the State government goes ahead with the expressway and does not give due consideration to the demand for improving the rail service in the region, I will be left with noother option but to file a Public Interest Litigation," said Deedar Singh, firmly adding that all his earlier attempts to draw the attention of the State government and concerned railway authorities in this regard had not yielded any positive results.

Suggesting a solution to the heavy traffic of goods trucks between Pune and Mumbai, Deedar Singh said that places like Manchar and Chakan should be connected to Talegaon by a new rail link. This will facilitate the quick transport of perishable commodities like vegetables and fruits to Mumbai. Also the industrial area around Chakan will be able to utilise rail services, he said adding that such a move would also add tremendously to railways revenue.

He said in order to streamline the traffic flow and make it safe, problems on the existing National Highway number 4 such as road signs, parking of vehicles in front of octroi and check posts on the highway should be tackled by concerned authorities strictly.

Singh also suggested that the railways shouldimprove its goods transport services and strictly follow the standards of maintainance of rail tracks, rolling stocks and engines. "If the existing railway and road infrastructure is improved upon there would be absolutely no need of having an exclusive expressway," he said.