Mumbai, Dec 31 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his appreciation for the Union Cabinet's recent endorsement of the six-lane greenfield Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot corridor. He emphasized that this initiative, in line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, will dramatically cut down travel time, enhance connectivity from west to east, elevate logistics efficiency, and create a substantial number of jobs, thereby propelling economic growth.

In a message shared on X, the Chief Minister stated: “I extend my sincere thanks to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji and the Union Cabinet for sanctioning the 374-km Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot six-lane Greenfield Corridor (Rs 19,142 crore). This is a significant advancement towards rapid and safe connectivity under the #PMGatishakti National Master Plan.”

Earlier today, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of the 374-km-long six-lane access-controlled greenfield Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot highway in Maharashtra. This project is set to be executed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) framework at a total capital expenditure of Rs 19,142 crore.

An official statement revealed that the corridor will link vital cities such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur, aiming to accelerate the development of integrated transport infrastructure in accordance with the PM Gati Shakti framework.

The new route between Nashik and Akkalkot will connect with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway near the Vadhvan Bandar interchange, the Agra–Mumbai Corridor on National Highway-60 (Adegaon) in Nashik, and the Samruddhi Expressway at Pangri, near Nashik. This corridor is anticipated to create a direct link from the west coast to the east coast.

The government announcement also mentioned ongoing work on a four-lane route stretching from Chennai to Hasapur (Maharashtra border), covering approximately 700 km alongside the Chennai Port through Tiruvallur, Renigunta, Kadapa, and Kurnool. Once incorporated with the proposed six-lane greenfield corridor, the initiative is estimated to shorten travel distance by 201 km and reduce travel time by about 17 hours.

The Nashik–Akkalkot corridor (via Solapur) is expected to improve logistics efficiency for the transportation of goods to and from key National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) locations at Kopparthi and Orvakallu. The Nashik–Talegaon Dighe segment is anticipated to be instrumental in the development of the proposed Pune–Nashik Expressway.

This project will be part of a new expressway system being constructed by the NICDC in collaboration with the Maharashtra government. Designed as an access-controlled corridor with closed tolling facilities, it will enable an average operational speed of 60 km/h and a design speed reaching up to 100 km/h.

Officials noted that this corridor is expected to decrease overall travel time by nearly 45% — from roughly 31 hours to about 17 hours — all while ensuring safer, quicker, and uninterrupted transit for both passenger and freight traffic.

Moreover, the project is projected to generate approximately 251.06 lakh man-days of direct employment and 313.83 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Additional job opportunities are also likely to arise due to the increased economic activity along the corridor, as stated in the release.

The corridor is expected to provide significant advantages to the districts of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur by enhancing connectivity, logistics capacity, and regional economic growth.