- By Nidhi Giri
- Sat, 22 Mar 2025 03:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nashik-Vadhavan Expressway: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has begun the feasibility study for the Nashik-Vadhavan Expressway project that would take over two months for completion. Once the project is operationalised, Nashik would be a major growth hub in the state. The ongoing feasibility study will ascertain the route and details like land to be acquired for the project.
At least two road tunnels, similar to the one constructed on the Igatpuri stretch of Samruddhi Mahamarg, will be the special feature of proposed 103-km-long six-lane expressway that the state government has planned to construct for connecting Nashik with the Vadhavan port in Palghar district. Maharashtra government has decided to go forward with this expressway project to boost connectivity for greenfield deep sea port at Vadhavan — being constructed at a cost of over Rs76,200 crore.
"Like the 7.7-km-long road tunnel between Igatpuri and Kasara on Samruddhi Mahamarg, there will be at least two to three similar tunnels on the Nashik-Vadhavan road project. These tunnels would be constructed by cutting through the hilly terrain of the western ghats. The length of these tunnels would be decided once the blueprint of the project is finalised," an MSRDC official told TOI.
The tunnel on the Igatpuri stretch of Samruddhi highway was set up by excavating over 44 lakh tonnes of rock. Over 23,000 tonnes of cement and 400 tonnes of steel have been used to set up the road tunnel, which has significantly reduced the travel time between Igatpuri and Kasara.
"After the feasibility study, MSRDC will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) that would take at least six months for completion. Once the DPR is approved, the MSRDC will invite bids for the construction work," said MSRDC officials, as quoted by the report.