Prime Minister The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Narendra Modi today approved the construction of two major projects. The total estimated cost of these two projects is approximately Rs 20,668 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Wednesday approved widening and strengthening of the existing 2-lane road from Km 68.600 to Km 311.700 of NH-326 in Odisha along the 374 km long Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor into a 2-lane road with paved shoulders.
Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor will be built at a cost of Rs 19,142 crore
The Cabinet Committee has approved the construction of 374 km long Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor on BOT (toll) mode in Maharashtra at a total cost of Rs 19,142 crore. This project will connect important cities of Maharashtra like Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Solapur with Kurnool. This infrastructure is an important step towards facilitating integrated transport infrastructure development under the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan principle. The greenfield corridor from Nashik to Akkalkot is proposed to be connected to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Wadhawan Port Interchange, the Agra-Mumbai corridor at the junction of NH-60 (Adegaon) at Nashik and the Samruddhi Mahamarg at Pangri (near Nashik).
17 hours will be saved in travel time
The proposed corridor will provide direct connectivity from the west coast to the east coast. From the Chennai port end, a 4-lane corridor is already under construction from Chennai to Hasapur (Maharashtra border) via Tiruvallur, Renigunta, Cuddapah and Kurnool (700 km long). The primary objective of the proposed access-controlled 6-lane greenfield project corridor is to improve travel efficiency and is expected to reduce travel time by 17 hours and travel distance by 201 km. The Nashik-Akkalkot (Solapur) connectivity will improve logistics efficiency for freight movement at the key National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) nodes of Kopparthy and Orvakal.
Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv and Solapur districts will benefit tremendously.
Part of the Nashik-Talegaon Dighe section also caters to the development of the Pune-Nashik Expressway, which has been identified by NICDC as part of the proposed new expressway being built by the Maharashtra State Government. The project provides a high-speed corridor designed for improved safety and seamless traffic movement, thereby reducing travel time, congestion and operating costs. Importantly, this project will enhance the infrastructure in the region, thereby contributing to the overall economic development of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv and Solapur districts.
Cars will be able to run at 100 km per hour
It is a 6-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor with tolling facilities, supporting an average vehicle speed of 60 km/h with a design speed of 100 km/h. This will reduce total travel time by approximately 17 hours (45% less than 31 hours), while providing safe, fast and seamless connectivity for both passenger and freight trains. This project will generate direct employment of approximately 251.06 lakh man-days and indirect employment of 313.83 lakh man-days. This project will create more employment opportunities due to increased economic activity around the proposed corridor.
NH-326 will be developed in Odisha
Further, the Cabinet today approved the project of widening and strengthening of existing 2-lane road from Km 68.600 to Km 311.700 of NH-326 in Odisha to 2-lane road with paved shoulders on EPC mode. The total cost of this project is Rs 1526.21 crore, which includes civil construction expenditure of Rs 966.79 crore. The upgradation of NH-326 will make travel faster, safer and more reliable, which will lead to the overall development of Southern Odisha, especially benefitting the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput.
Improved road connectivity will directly benefit local communities, industries, educational institutions and tourism centres, improving access to markets, healthcare and employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the inclusive growth of the region.
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