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The Maharashtra Cabinet recently approved construction of a roughly 105 km freight corridor connecting the upcoming Vadhavan port in Palghar with the Samruddhi Expressway in Nashik. The route will slash the current 183 km detour and cut transit time from around five hours to just one to one and a half hours, enhancing cargo logistics between coastal and inland regions. The move includes a INR 1,500 crore HUDCO loan and state allocation of INR 2,529 crore. Once built by MSRDC over three years, the corridor is poised to boost industrial, agricultural and educational hubs across the region.
The State Cabinet has cleared plans for a key freight corridor stretching about 104.9 km to connect Vadhavan port with the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi expressway at Bharvir. It will dramatically reduce the current travel distance of roughly 183 km and cut transit time from four-five hours to as little as one to one and a half hours. Advertisement
To fund this infrastructure, a HUDCO loan of INR 1,500 crore has been approved, alongside a state provision of INR 2,529 crore. Officials say the corridor, being constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, is expected to be completed within three years.
The expressway will pass through key talukas including Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar, Mokhada in Palghar and Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri in Nashik targeting improved hinterland access for cargo from Marathwada, Vidarbha and North Maharashtra.
The move is expected to be a game-changer for logistics, with smoother connectivity facilitating growth of small, medium and heavy industries, agro-based enterprises, educational institutions and IT services, while generating local employment and expanding markets.
Vadhavan port, envisioned as India's 13th major deep-water transshipment hub, is being developed at an estimated cost of INR 76,220 crore through a JV between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (74 %) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (26 %), with completion targeted in phases by 2040.
Connectivity to the Dedicated Freight Corridor and the super-expressway is expected to cut logistics costs by INR 3,000-6,000 per container and attract trade via the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and International North-South Transport Corridor.
Land acquisition procedures and financial planning are already underway under the MSRDC's oversight. Once operational, the corridor is anticipated to significantly unlock the economic potential of Maharashtra's western regions.
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