66km Outer Ring Road around Nashik city to be ready before Kumbh

Nashik: The proposed 66.15-km outer ring road encircling the city will be completed before the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027. Designed to ease traffic flow during the massive religious gathering, the project is being implemented by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) at an estimated cost of Rs 7,922 crore, covering both land acquisition and civil works. Kumbh Mela Authority commissioner Shekhar Singh said the administration began acquiring land for the project and is in active discussions with farmers whose land will be affected. He assured that all compensation will be provided strictly as per govt norms. Addressing concerns over protests by some farmer groups, Singh said the officials are in continuous communication with them and are confident of reaching an understanding. A total of 386 hectares across 25 villages surrounding Nashik will be acquired for the ring road. The land acquisition cost, estimated at Rs3,659.47 crore, will be borne by the state govt, while the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will fund the civil works amounting to Rs 4,262.64 crore. The outer ring road proposal was approved last year by the state cabinet's infrastructure committee headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The aim is to reduce congestion on city roads and create alternative routes for managing vehicular pressure during the Kumbh period. The ring road will begin and end at Adgaon, passing through key stretches, including DRDO Junction, Dindori Road, Dakambale Shivar, Peth-Gavalwadi, Gangapur Road, Govardhan, Trimbak Road, Belgaon Dhaga, and Vilholi. According to officials, the deadline for completion is March 2027. Nashik is one of four cities in India that host the Kumbh Mela every 12 years. While the 2015 edition saw nearly 2 crore devotees visiting the city, the upcoming 2027 Kumbh is expected to attract more than 5 crore visitors. With such a dramatic rise in anticipated footfall and traffic, authorities are prioritising robust infrastructure and traffic management systems to prevent congestion and ensure smooth movement for pilgrims. Officials said that the outer ring road, once completed, will play a crucial role in diverting heavy and long-distance traffic away from the city core, reducing pressure on existing arterial roads during the mela. The project is seen as a long-term investment that will continue to benefit Nashik's traffic and transport network even beyond Kumbh Mela.