The 374-km project, estimated to cost Rs 19,142 crore, will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll basis.
Photo: IANS
In a significant move to enhance high-speed road infrastructure under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the construction of a six-lane, access-controlled greenfield corridor connecting Nashik, Solapur, and Akkalkot in Maharashtra.
The 374-km project, estimated to cost Rs 19,142 crore, will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll basis.
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Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision, highlighting the corridor’s role in improving both regional and national connectivity. “This project will provide connectivity to important regional cities such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur, further linking to Kurnool,” he said during a press briefing following the Cabinet meeting.
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Describing the corridor as a vital component of integrated transport planning, Vaishnaw added, “This infrastructure is a significant step to facilitate integrated transport infrastructure development under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan principle.”
The corridor will link several major national highways and expressways, including the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway near the Wadhawan Port interchange, the Agra–Mumbai corridor at Nashik via NH-60, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Nashik. It will strengthen west coast-east coast connectivity, integrating with ongoing four-lane corridor projects from Chennai port to the Maharashtra border.
Designed for high-speed, uninterrupted travel, the corridor will support average vehicle speeds of 60 kmph and a design speed of 100 kmph. It is expected to cut travel time by nearly 17 hours and reduce the distance by 201 km, bringing overall travel time down from 31 hours to approximately 17 hours—a 45% reduction.
The new corridor will notably improve logistics efficiency, especially for freight traffic linked to key National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) nodes like Kopparthy and Orvakal. The Nashik–Talegaon Dighe segment will also address the long-standing demand for a Pune–Nashik Expressway, aligning with Maharashtra government plans.
The minister emphasized that the corridor will enhance road safety, reduce congestion, lower vehicle operating costs, and ensure seamless connectivity for both passenger and freight traffic.
The project is expected to generate significant employment, with an estimated 251.06 lakh direct man-days and 313.83 lakh indirect man-days during construction. Further job creation is anticipated from economic growth spurred along the corridor.
Vaishnaw noted that the development will strengthen infrastructure and boost economic growth in Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts, positioning the region as a key growth hub within Maharashtra’s expanding transport and industrial framework.
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