Maharashtra cabinet gives its approval for 105km freight corridor to connect Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway and Vadhavan port

Mumbai: Vadhavan port in Palghar and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway will be connected by a freight corridor at Bharveer in Nashik. The 105 km expressway was approved in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The project will be undertaken through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). A loan of Rs 1,500 crore will be raised for the project from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Along with the loan, the cabinet also approved a provision of Rs 2,529 crore. The project work will be completed in three years, officials said.Vadhavan Transshipment Port is being built through Vadhavan Port Project Ltd. "In order to reach all parts of the country through international water transport via Vadhavan port quickly and at an affordable price, this port is proposed to be connected to the Samruddhi Expressway. The National Highways Authority of India has currently undertaken the work of a 32 km highway from Vadhavan port to Tawa under the Sagarmala Project. To reach Vadhavan port from Samruddhi Mahamarg, one has to go through Bharveer-Amane to Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. Due to this, an unnecessary journey of about 82 km is required. Considering the future large-scale traffic of Vadhavan port, it is very necessary to build a highway suitable for traffic in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra," an official said."This expressway will pass through Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar, and Mokhada talukas of Palghar district and Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri talukas of Nashik district. Due to this highway, the distance from Tawa Bharveer to Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway will be 104.898 km instead of 183.48 km. Due to this, the distance between Tawa Bharveer and Bharveer will be reduced from four-five hours to 1-1.5 hours, which will result in a huge saving in transportation time. Due to the speedy communication, small, medium, and heavy industrial factories, agricultural institutions, educational institutions, IT companies, and agro-industrial centres in Palghar and Nashik districts will benefit. This will provide better employment and a better market to the locals," an official said.

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