New Delhi: The cabinet has approved the construction of a new six-lane access-controlled Greenfield High-Speed National Highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra.
This 29-KM long project will be developed under the Build, Operation and Transfer model at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore.
The initiative is a key part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan that aims to enhance road infrastructure connecting major and minor ports.
It has been highlighted that with the increasing container volume at JNPA Port and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, improved highway connectivity has become crucial to managing transportation movement efficiently.
Other major National Highways near JNPT are the Mumbai-Pune Highway, Mumbai-PuneExpressway, and Mumbai-Goa Highway.
At present, it takes about two to three hours to travel from JNPA Port to the Golden Quadrilateral section of NH-48 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway because of heavy congestion in areas such as Palaspe Phata, Kalamboli Junction and Panvel. In these areas, traffic reaches about 1.8 lakh Passenger Car Units (PCU) per day.
With the Navi Mumbai airport set to become operational this year, the demand for direct connectivity is expected to rise significantly.
The newly approved corridor will link NH-348 at JNPA Port to the NH-48, while integrating with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH-66 (Mumbai-Goa Highway).
As per the decision, two tunnels through the Sahyadri hills will be constructed to bypass the existing ghat section, ensuring smooth and high-speed movement for commercial vehicles, particularly large container trucks.
It should be noted that NH-348 is the only National Highway evacuating traffic from JNPT which turns north-wards in two National Highways NH-348 and NH-348A.
This high-speed corridor is expected to enhance logistics efficiency, improve port connectivity, as well as promote economic growth in the Mumbai and Pune regions.
The project is poised to facilitate safer and faster freight movement, unlocking new development opportunities in the state of Maharashtra.
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