Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced a major infrastructure upgrade for a crucial section of the Mumbai-Agra National Highway. Responding to concerns raised in Parliament, the minister confirmed that the Dhule-Pimpalgaon Baswant stretch will be expanded from four to six lanes to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.
Parliamentary Query Highlights Contractor Delays
The announcement came in response to a question posed by Dhule Member of Parliament, Shobha Bachhav. The MP highlighted the persistent problems faced by commuters on this highway section. She pointed out that road resurfacing, or overlay work, which was scheduled for 2014, 2019, and 2024, has been consistently delayed.
While the first two overlays were completed two to three years behind schedule, the third remains incomplete. Bachhav criticized the contractor for executing the necessary resurfacing in patches instead of continuously along the entire road length. She demanded a comprehensive audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and appropriate penalties for the contractor's failure to honor the agreement with the government.
Minister Details Penalties and Project Timeline
In his detailed reply, Minister Gadkari provided a timeline of the project and the actions taken against the contractor for delays. The original four-lane project was completed in 2010 under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
The first overlay, due in 2015, was executed in 2016 after a one-year delay. For this delay, a substantial penalty of Rs 16 crore was imposed on the contractor and successfully recovered by the government.
The second overlay, expected in 2021, was also delayed. A further penalty of Rs 7 crore was levied and recovered for this lapse. Regarding the current third overlay, Gadkari stated that work is in progress, with 56 out of the total 118 kilometers completed. The remaining work is targeted for completion by January 2026.
Road to Six Lanes: The Future Plan
Citing the heavy traffic load on the current four-lane design, Gadkari outlined the future course of action. The government has decided to widen the highway section to six lanes. The preparatory work is already advanced.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is nearly finalized. The physical widening work will commence only after the current contract period concludes and the road is handed back to the National Highways Authority. The contractual period is set to end in April 2026.
Following the handover, the ministry will float a tender for the six-laning project. This major infrastructure upgrade aims to enhance connectivity, improve safety, and reduce travel time on the busy Mumbai-Agra corridor, benefiting countless daily commuters and freight transporters.
