Rs 2,528 crore project: Cabinet approves 104-km freight corridor connecting Vadhavan Port with Mumbai-Nagpur E-way

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for the construction of a 104.8-kilometre high-speed freight corridor connecting the upcoming Vadhavan Port in Palghar district with Bharvir in Nashik district, linking it to the Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway, officially named the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg.
The corridor, proposed as a strategic infrastructure link under the state's rapid logistics expansion plan, is expected to save nearly 79 km in travel distance and reduce commute time between the port and the expressway from 4–5 hours to just 1–1.5 hours.
The project will be developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The Cabinet has approved a total outlay of Rs 2,528.90 crore, including a Rs 1,500 crore loan from HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation). The corridor is to be completed within three years.
Currently, cargo from Vadhavan must travel via the Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway, covering around 183.48 km to reach the Samruddhi corridor via Bharvir–Amne. With the new expressway, the distance will be reduced to 104.898 km, saving 78.582 km, officials said.
The proposed expressway will pass through Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar and Mokhada in Palghar district, and Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri in Nashik district, offering a direct, fast-moving logistics link between the state's western coast and central and eastern Maharashtra.
The Vadhavan Transshipment Port, being developed under the Sagarmala initiative by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd, is expected to serve as a major international cargo hub. To complement this, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is currently constructing a 32-km highway from the port to Tawa on National Highway 48, which will integrate into the larger freight corridor.
At present, heavy cargo vehicles must take a longer detour from Bharvir–Amne to reach the Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway, resulting in additional travel of nearly 82 km. The new corridor is expected to eliminate this inefficiency, enhancing fuel savings and turnaround times for goods transport.
Officials said the corridor is being planned with future traffic volumes in mind. With anticipated high-volume freight movement from Vadhavan Port, particularly toward Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra, the expressway will play a vital role in decongesting existing routes and facilitating regional economic development.
'The expressway will benefit a wide range of stakeholders — from large and medium-scale industries to agricultural processing units, educational institutions, and IT parks in Palghar and Nashik. It will also help improve market access and generate local employment,' an MSRDC official said.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is overseeing major infrastructure and connectivity initiatives in the state. Officials noted that the new corridor will function as a key logistics backbone, enabling affordable, fast, and efficient cargo transport from India's western maritime gateway to its heartland.