The Union Cabinet, in a significant move to bolster India's road infrastructure, gave its nod on Wednesday to two major highway projects with a combined investment of Rs 20,668 crore. The approvals encompass a landmark greenfield corridor in Maharashtra and a crucial upgrade of a national highway in Odisha, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and spurring economic activity.
Maharashtra's Mega Nashik-Solapur Greenfield Corridor
The most substantial project approved is the 374-kilometre Nashik–Solapur (Akkalkot) corridor in Maharashtra, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 19,142 crore. This ambitious project involves constructing a six-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway and is a vital segment of the larger Surat–Chennai high-speed corridor, which will link western and southern India.
The corridor will traverse through the districts of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur. With an estimated construction period of two years, this project has been highlighted as the largest-value Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project ever undertaken in the country. This model is expected to attract significant private sector investment into the infrastructure sector.
Boosting Connectivity in Aspirational Odisha Districts
The second project sanctioned by the cabinet is the widening and strengthening of National Highway-326 from Mohana to Koraput in Odisha. This project, with an outlay of Rs 1,526 crore, will upgrade the existing road to a two-lane highway with paved shoulders.
Spanning 206.2 kilometres, the NH-326 upgrade will pass through the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput, which are identified as aspirational and tribal districts. It will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model and is also slated for completion within two years.
Expected Impact and Benefits
The upgraded NH-326 will provide direct connectivity to key national corridors, including NH-26, NH-59, NH-16, and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor. This is anticipated to significantly improve connectivity between eastern and southern parts of Odisha.
The project's benefits are multifaceted:
- Enhanced Logistics: It will facilitate smoother movement of goods to Gopalpur Port and nearby industrial hubs.
- Reduced Travel Time: Commuters can expect a substantial reduction in travel time by approximately three hours.
- Improved Safety: The project includes measures to remove accident-prone black spots, enhancing road safety.
- Holistic Development: Overall, it is poised to support industrial growth, educational access, tourism, and socio-economic development in the region.
These approvals underscore the government's continued focus on expanding and modernizing the national highway network, which is critical for driving economic growth, improving inter-state connectivity, and generating employment opportunities across the country.
