Expedite road infra projects across Maharashtra before monsoon: Shinde
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to expedite the execution of ongoing road infrastructure projects across the state, particularly completion of the key works on the Mumbai-Nashik highway before the onset of monsoon.
Reviewing the status of various MSRDC-led infrastructure projects across the state in the presence of MSRDC Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad and other senior officials, Shinde said all these projects must be completed within the stipulated timeline. He also said that like
CIDCO and MMRDA, MSRDC should also participate in slum redevelopment projects.
After reviewing the Mumbai-Nashik highway, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed that the delayed works on the highway be expedited. 'If the concretisation of road sections cannot be completed before monsoon, then those stretches should be made traffic-worthy by asphalting them. Concretisation on 31 kilometres on this route is still pending,' said Shinde.
'Works at Pimpalas–Charoti and on the railway overbridge should also be expedited. If contractors are being negligent in completing the works on time, then they should be served a notice and warned as well,' said Shinde.
Shinde directed that traffic movement on the Thane–Nashik highway must remain smooth throughout the monsoon season. He also emphasized the timely completion of the missing link on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, stating it should be open to the public by December.
Additionally, he reviewed progress on the proposed Konkan access-controlled Expressway, intended to improve connectivity between Mumbai and Sindhudurg and provide faster access to the Konkan region. He also instructed to speed up work on shelter centers in Konkan.
'To provide temporary shelter to citizens during recurring natural calamities in Konkan, MSRDC planned 86 shelter centres. Work on 37 of these shelter centres is currently in progress. These works should be expedited. Also, these shelter centres should preferably be built near schools so that after the monsoon, schools can also use them for their activities,' he said.
The Shaktipeeth highway project, which will reduce the current 18-hour journey from Nagpur to Goa to just eight hours, was also reviewed.
Given the opposition to this project from Kolhapur, Latur, Dharashiv, and Beed, it was suggested to initiate dialogue with the villagers.
'The objective is to create a complete access-controlled grid connecting Nagpur and Goa, similar to the Samruddhi Expressway, which will benefit farmers and citizens in 12 districts. Therefore, efforts should be made to communicate with farmers and take them into confidence,' said Shinde further instructing to speed up work on New Mahabaleshwar.
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