Seven firms bid for Rs 221cr Dwarka–Datta Mandir road stretch widening of Nashik-Pune highway

Nashik: Seven infrastructure firms from Mumbai, Pune and Nashik have bid for the Rs 221-crore project to widen the congested 6.4km Dwarka Circle-Datta Mandir stretch of the Nashik-Pune highway, with bidders flagging cost escalation and land acquisition concerns during a pre-bid meeting with the civic body.

The bidders raised key queries on whether fluctuations in material costs — amid global geopolitical tensions — would be accounted for in the contract or compensated separately. Concerns were also voiced over land acquisition timelines, seen as critical to preventing project delays.

Civic officials said the project requires around 50,000sqm of land. Of this, 20,000sqm is already with Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), while 13,500sqm belongs to govt agencies. The remaining 17,000sqm, currently in private ownership, is being acquired through transfer of development rights (TDR). Notices have already been issued to landowners to surrender land under the TDR mechanism, officials said.

Contractors also pushed for excluding the four monsoon months from the stipulated one-year deadline to complete widening and asphalting works, citing execution challenges. They further sought clarity on technical specifications to ensure uniformity during construction.

The Union ministry of road transport and highways has cleared the project, which is slated to begin in the first half of June. The last date for bid submission is June 1, and tenders will be opened on June 2, NMC officials said.

The proposed upgrade will expand the existing 25m-wide road to 45m, and includes two-lane service roads of 7.5m each on both sides, along with 2.5m-wide footpaths to improve pedestrian safety. At present, the stretch lacks basic infrastructure such as service roads and walkways, making it hazardous for both motorists and pedestrians.

The Dwarka Circle-Datta Mandir corridor is one of Nashik’s busiest arterial routes, linking Nashik Road with the main city and serving as a key passage for traffic heading towards Pune, Shirdi and the Sinnar industrial belt. Heavy congestion, compounded by dense commercial activity, has made widening imperative.

Officials said the project is aimed at easing traffic bottlenecks and strengthening road infrastructure ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027, when a sharp surge in vehicular movement is expected.