The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its go-ahead for the development of a 6-lane, access-controlled Greenfield National Highway in Maharashtra, 29.219 km long from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk. The project, which will be constructed on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis, will have a total capital expenditure of Rs. 4,500.62 crore.
This project seeks to improve connectivity from Jawaharlal Nehru Port to the major transportation arteries such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66). As container volumes rise at JNPA (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority) Port and with the impending Navi Mumbai International Airport, there is an urgent need to enhance national highway connectivity in the area. The current road link between JNPA Port and the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) part of NH-48 is approximately 2-3 hours long because of extreme congestion in urban locations such as Palaspe Phata, D-Point, Kalamboli junction, and Panvel. The traffic flow on the stretch is approximately 1.8 lakh PCU/day. As the operationalization of the Navi Mumbai Airport in 2025 is scheduled, demand for greater connectivity is bound to increase more.
Also Read: Union Cabinet approves Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib Ropeway projects: Details
For crossing these difficulties, the new Greenfield National Highway will contain two tunnels running across the Sahayadri mountain range, enabling smoother transport of commercial trucks and avoiding the traditional Ghat section in hilly terrain. This will provide for faster and easier movement of container lorries that are heavy in weight. Project alignment starts from JNPA Port (NH 348) at Pagote village and ends at the Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48), connecting key transport interchanges.
It will dramatically increase port connectivity, allowing secure and efficient movement of freight. It is in line with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which is aimed at integrating infrastructure planning to enhance connectivity to major and minor ports in India. The project is also set to create new opportunities for growth and development in the areas around Mumbai and Pune, promoting economic growth and logistical efficiency.