In a landmark decision set to revolutionize road connectivity between western and southern India, the Union Cabinet has approved a massive ₹19,142 crore investment for a new National Highway corridor. This project will dramatically reduce the travel time between the economic hubs of Surat and Chennai from the current 31 hours to just 17 hours.
A Greenfield Corridor to Transform Travel
The approval, granted on 31 December 2025, greenlights the construction of a crucial section of the proposed Surat-Chennai high-speed corridor. The specific project is the 374-km Greenfield access-controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot highway in Maharashtra. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced this milestone on social media platform X, highlighting it as a significant step in enhancing India's high-speed highway infrastructure.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the scale of the project, noting it represents the largest value highway project on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model in the country's National Highway development history.
Key Features and Impact of the Project
The six-lane corridor is designed with several transformative features:
- It will shorten the distance between Nashik and Solapur by 14%, from 432 km to 374 km.
- The average speed on this route is expected to jump from 60 kmph to 100 kmph.
- Overall, the Surat to Chennai travel time will be reduced by 45%.
- Officials state this link will serve as a vital alternative to the existing Mumbai-Chennai corridor.
- The project is split into two large packages: a 152 km stretch from Nashik to Ahilyanagar and a 222 km section from Ahilyanagar to Akkalkot.
- Traffic on the corridor is projected to be around 39,000 passenger car units (PCUs) per day.
An official indicated that the bidding process will commence after 90% of the land is acquired, a process which is reportedly already at an advanced stage.
Broader Economic and Regional Benefits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, hailed the project as transformative and aligned with the PM Gati Shakti initiative. He stated it would significantly cut travel time, strengthen west-east connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and generate large-scale employment.
Elaborating on the benefits, Minister Vaishnaw said, "This will facilitate heavy traffic between Surat, Vadodara and Mumbai towards Kurnool, Bengaluru and Chennai." The project is fundamentally aimed at strengthening seamless connectivity and boosting economic integration between two key regions of India.
In a related development, the Cabinet also approved the widening and strengthening of NH-326 in Odisha. This 206.2-kilometre, two-lane highway with paved shoulders from Mohana to Koraput is expected to be completed in two years. It will reduce travel time by three hours and boost economic activity in several tribal districts, including Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput, also promoting the renowned Koraput Coffee.
