Eastern Maharashtra set for smooth four-lane travel

The Maharashtra government has approved the construction of a 204-kilometre, four-lane concrete highway connecting Nagpur and Chandrapur. The decision was taken during a Cabinet Infrastructure Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Nagpur-Chandrapur Highway will also include an additional 11-kilometre connecting road into Chandrapur city, with the total project cost, including land acquisition, estimated at Rs 2,353.39 crore. Construction is expected to begin soon, with the project targeted for completion within 30 months. Once operational, the expressway will cut travel time between Nagpur and Chandrapur from around four hours to just two hours.

During the meeting held at his Varsha residence, Chief Minister Fadnavis also directed officials to submit a proposal for constructing a highway between Chandrapur and Mul. Highlighting the broader vision for the project, he instructed that an “ecosystem” of development should be created along the highway, and land for future road projects should be planned and acquired in advance. Additionally, he suggested extending the Nagpur-Chandrapur highway beyond Navegaon More up to the Surjagad Iron Project to further support regional development.

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, and Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar were present at the meeting.

Chief Minister Fadnavis stressed the importance of timely completion of infrastructure projects. “Delays increase financial burdens on the state. Maharashtra currently has infrastructure projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore underway, and their progress must remain uninterrupted. All projects should be registered on the Gatishakti portal before commencement to ensure proper planning and monitoring,” he said.

He further instructed that irrigation and other development projects should factor in future challenges from the planning stage itself, with land acquisition done beforehand. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) was urged to expand operations, establish dedicated departments for efficient project implementation, and source expert manpower externally if needed.

To improve transparency and efficiency, Fadnavis recommended implementing a technology-based system to verify payments and curb irregularities. He also highlighted the importance of amenities along highways, instructing that toilets, petrol pumps, and food plazas be installed, similar to the 16 planned stops along the Samruddhi Highway. Four of these locations should also feature tourist centers. The Chief Minister suggested that investor funds be leveraged to support infrastructure development, along with a fixed remuneration model for their participation.