New Delhi, 31 December (H.S.): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the construction of a six-lane greenfield access-controlled Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot Corridor in Maharashtra. The 374-kilometre-long project will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) model with a total capital outlay of ₹19,142 crore, marking a significant step in advancing India’s integrated infrastructure development under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.

The corridor, designed as a high-speed access-controlled expressway, will connect key regional cities — Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur, eventually linking to Kurnool and providing a seamless route from India’s west coast to the east coast.

The project will play a vital role in enhancing trade, mobility, and logistics efficiency across Maharashtra and adjoining states.The proposed Nashik–Akkalkot route will integrate with several major national corridors, including the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway near the Vadhawan Port interchange, the Agra–Mumbai corridor at NH-60 (Adegaon), and the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Pangri.

On the eastern end, the corridor will complement the ongoing Chennai–Hasapur four-lane project, linking through Thiruvallur, Renigunta, Kadappa, and Kurnool, thereby establishing a full-fledged west–east economic artery.

Designed for an average vehicular speed of 60 km/h and a design speed of 100 km/h, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time by 45%, cutting journey hours from 31 to about 17, while shortening the distance by 201 kilometres. This reduction will notably improve freight efficiency for major National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) nodes such as Kopparthy and Orvakal.

The Nashik–Talegaon Dighe section, a part of this alignment, also complements the proposed Pune–Nashik Expressway, which the Maharashtra State Government is developing in coordination with the NICDC. The new infrastructure is expected to relieve congestion, reduce vehicle operating costs, and significantly improve regional logistics performance.

Beyond transportation benefits, the project is poised to generate substantial employment opportunities — an estimated 251.06 lakh man-days of direct and 313.83 lakh man-days of indirect employment — while spurring economic growth and industrial activity throughout the Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts.

The Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot corridor stands as a testament to India’s ongoing efforts to modernize its transport infrastructure, enhance connectivity between major economic centers, and accelerate regional development under the vision of a self-reliant and efficiently connected Bharat.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar