Maharashtra approves Rs 4,500 crore highway for freight

The Union Cabinet has approved a new six-lane highway in Maharashtra that will improve freight movement. This project will connect JNPA Port to Chowk and has an investment of Rs 4,500.62 crore. It will be developed with private investments under the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model. The new 29.2 km highway will provide direct links to major roads like NH-48, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and NH-66. This will ease congestion at busy junctions, which currently delays transport by 2-3 hours. The growing container traffic at JNPA and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport have increased the need for better connectivity. Construction will include two tunnels through the Sahyadri hills. This will help trucks avoid steep roads, making travel safer and quicker. The new corridor aims to reduce travel times and lower logistics costs, which will benefit businesses that rely on port transport. Improved access is expected to encourage private investment in warehouses and industrial zones along the route. This will boost economic activity in areas like Navi Mumbai, Raigad, and Pune, creating jobs and attracting more investments. Overall, the highway project is a significant move to enhance Mumbai's logistics capabilities, making cargo movement smoother and more efficient. With the new airport expected to open in 2025, the highway will help avoid traffic congestion for cargo transport.