8 hours ago
Center to develop nine roads leading to Nashik ahead of Kumbh mela
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all roads connecting Nashik will be developed and upgraded in view of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik. A total of nine roads will be developed by the central government ahead of the religious meet in 2027 and as per the preliminary estimate, the work is likely to cost a further Rs 4000 crore.
A high-level meeting regarding the highway connecting Nashik was held on Sunday in the presence of Union Road Development Minister Nitin Gadkari at Nagpur. Gadkari extended in-principle approval to the construction of necessary roads and facilities required for the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik as a huge crowd of devotees is expected to arrive, leading to a strain on the traffic system. It was decided that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared soon and funds will be made available for this.
The routes to be developed include, Ghoti – Pahine – Trimbakeshwar – Jawhar Phata; Dwarka Circle – Sinnar IC 21 (Samruddhi Expressway) Nandur Shingote – Kolhar; Nashik to Kasara; Savli Vihir (IC 20 Samruddhi Expressway) Shirdi – Shani Shingnapur Phata (Rahuri Khurd); Nashik to Dhule; Trimbakeshwar – Jawhar – Manor; Shadow Well – Manmad – Malegaon; Ghoti – Sinnar – Vavi – Shirdi; Shani Shingnapur Phata (Rahuri Khurd) – Ahilyanagar (Kharwandi Phata).The meeting approved the Nashik Ring Road. Along with this, it was decided to make the Nashik to Trimbak road six-lane.
'The cost will be calculated post preparation of the DPR. But the central government has assured all possible financial help as well,' said an official from the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD). He added, the estimated Rs 4000 crore is for the construction of roads and additional money will be required for the Nashik ring road project.
'Keeping in view the increasing interest of devotees towards Kumbh Mela and the expected crowd, I had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide assistance at the central government level for its successful planning and enabling infrastructure road development. As a result this meeting was held today,' said Fadnavis.
There are eight important routes to Nashik from Mumbai, Gujarat, Palghar, Pune, Ahilyanagar, Sambhajinagar, Dhule. All these routes and the internal roads in Nashik city and the district also connect to the national highway. The meeting considered the development of all those roads. CM Fadnavis said that the expanded road network will provide more safe facilities to the devotees as it will handle the huge traffic expected during the Kumbh Mela.
