Highway boost: Cabinet clears Rs 20,668 crore highway projects; Nashik–Solapur corridor & NH-326 upgrade get nod

The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved highway projects worth Rs 20,668 crore, including a six-lane greenfield Nashik–Solapur (Akkalkot) corridor in Maharashtra and the widening and strengthening of NH-326 in Odisha.The largest approval is for the 374-km Nashik–Solapur (Akkalkot) corridor, cleared at a cost of Rs 19,142 crore. The project involves construction of a six-lane access-controlled greenfield highway and forms part of the Surat–Chennai high-speed corridor, linking western India with the southern region.The corridor will pass through Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv and Solapur districts, with a construction period of two years. The project has been described as the largest-value BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) project ever taken up, and is expected to spur private investment.The cabinet also approved the widening and strengthening of National Highway-326 from Mohana to Koraput in Odisha. The project involves upgrading the existing highway to a two-lane road with paved shoulders.The NH-326 project will cover 206.2 km, has a construction period of two years, and entails an investment of Rs 1,526 crore. It will be developed under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) model, and passes through Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput districts, identified as aspirational and tribal districts.According to the cabinet briefing, the NH-326 upgrade will provide direct connectivity to key national corridors including NH-26, NH-59, NH-16 and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor, and improve connectivity between eastern and southern Odisha.The project is expected to facilitate movement of goods to Gopalpur Port and nearby industrial hubs, reduce travel time by around three hours, and enhance road safety by removing black spots, while supporting industrial, educational, tourism and socio-economic development in the region.