Mumbai: In a significant move aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting development in Raigad district, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the construction of a new Greenfield Chowk-Pagote corridor.
This ambitious project will provide direct and indirect links to key transportation arteries, including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the old Mumbai-Pune Highway, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).
According to officials from the NHAI, the tendering process for the project has already commenced, with construction expected to begin within the next eight to nine months. The 29.219-kilometer-long Greenfield corridor will be built with a rigid pavement structure, comprising 300 mm of pavement quality concrete (PQC) over a 150 mm dry lean concrete (DLC) base. The proposed right-of-way (ROW) for the project will span 60 meters, ensuring sufficient space for future expansions and smooth traffic flow.
The six-lane configuration of the corridor is designed to accommodate growing transportation needs, complete with a paved shoulder for additional safety. The project will feature several significant engineering structures, including six major bridges, ranging in lengths from 160 meters to 910 meters; five minor bridges to enhance road safety and stability; eight vehicular underpasses (VUPs) and four light vehicular underpasses (LVUPs) to facilitate smooth crossings; four viaducts, with the longest measuring 1,205 meters and two railway over-bridges (ROBs) comprising multiple spans for seamless train and vehicle movement.
The Greenfield corridor has been officially designated as National Highway 348B, as per the Gazette Notification S.O. 833(E) dated February 23, 2024. The alignment and land acquisition plan were approved by the Land Acquisition (LA) committee during its 120th meeting on February 29, 2024. A total of 175.94 hectares of land will be acquired to accommodate the six-lane road configuration.
One of the most crucial aspects of the project is its strategic location, which intersects several important transportation routes. The new corridor will connect to the proposed Multi-Modal Corridor planned by the state government, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway managed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), National Highway 66 (Mumbai-Goa Highway), and National Highway 48 (Old Mumbai-Pune Highway).
The construction of this corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel times and enhance freight movement between Mumbai, Pune, and Raigad. It will also improve last-mile connectivity to the JNPA, one of India’s busiest ports, thereby strengthening trade infrastructure in the region.
Experts and real estate developers have welcomed the project, emphasizing its potential to transform Raigad into a vibrant economic hub. The Maharashtra government has been promoting the region as the "Third Mumbai," aiming to attract investment and ease the congestion in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai by fostering growth in the adjoining districts.
Once completed, the Greenfield Chowk-Pagote corridor will serve as a critical link in Maharashtra’s expanding transportation network, offering enhanced connectivity, reduced logistics costs, and improved regional development. This project marks another milestone in the state’s ambitious infrastructure expansion plans.
