Cabinet Approves Rs 4,500 Crore 6-Lane Highway for Enhanced Access to JNPA Port
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Synopsis
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, under PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Rs 4,500 crore construction of a 6-lane highway connecting JNPA port to Chowk in Maharashtra, enhancing regional logistics and connectivity.
Key Takeaways
- 6-lane highway approved for JNPA port
- Investment of Rs 4,500 crore
- Build, operate and transfer (BOT) model
- Connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport
- Two tunnels to ease commercial traffic
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the development of a 6-lane, access-controlled greenfield high-speed National Highway. This highway will connect JNPA port (Pagote) to Chowk, spanning 29.219 km in Maharashtra.
The total capital investment for this initiative is Rs 4,500.62 crore and will be executed in a build, operate and transfer (BOT) framework.
As container traffic at JNPA port increases and with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, the necessity for enhanced highway connectivity in the area has been highlighted in an official announcement.
Currently, it takes around 2-3 hours for vehicles to travel from JNPA Port to the vital Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) segment of NH-48 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to severe congestion in urban regions such as Palaspe Phata, D-Point, Kalamboli junction, and Panvel, with an estimated traffic volume of 1.8 lakh PCU/day. Following the opening of Navi Mumbai Airport in 2025, the demand for direct access is anticipated to escalate.
This initiative aims to meet these connectivity objectives and enhance the logistical efficiency between JNPA port and Navi Mumbai International Airport, as stated in the announcement.
The project alignment commences at JNPA port (NH 348) in Pagote village and culminates at the Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48), also connecting the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66).
To facilitate smooth transit for commercial vehicles, two tunnels traversing the Sahayadri range will be incorporated, bypassing the challenging Ghat section in hilly areas, thereby ensuring rapid and convenient movement for large container trucks.
This new 6-lane greenfield corridor will significantly enhance port connectivity and foster safe and efficient freight transportation. The project is set to unlock new growth, development, and prosperity avenues in the developing areas surrounding Mumbai and Pune.
The enhancement of road infrastructure connecting major and minor ports across India remains a key focus under the integrated infrastructure planning principles established by the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan.
