The Maharashtra government has given a significant boost to the Pune-Nashik Green Corridor Highway by issuing a land acquisition notification. The project, which has been in the news for the last two years, is now moving towards implementation.
Last year, the state government issued a notification for land acquisition, but the notification lapsed as work did not start. Now, a fresh notification has been issued, paving the way for land acquisition and project implementation.
The Pune-Mumbai Expressway Missing Link Project will reduce the distance between Pune and Mumbai by 6 km, which will reduce travel time by 30 minutes. Similarly, the Pune-Nashik Green Corridor will reduce the current travel time of 5-6 hours to 2-2.5 hours, making Nashik more accessible than Pune.
Vision 2020' scheme
The Pune-Nashik Green Corridor is linked to the semi-high-speed railway project proposed under the Railway Ministry's 'Vision 2020' scheme. The railway route has been approved by the Central and State governments, with only the final approval pending.
Two years ago, discussions about the highway began after then-Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) to conduct a feasibility study. However, a controversy arose over whether high-speed railway or highway should be prioritized.
The MSRDC appointed a consultant and prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the highway. However, due to strong opposition from farmers, the issue was raised with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who suggested reconsidering the project. This led to uncertainty and delay.
The Pune-Nashik Green Corridor is expected to enhance industrial, agricultural, and IT connectivity between the two cities. Pune is already a major IT and industrial hub, while Nashik has seen rapid growth in IT companies and agro-based industries. MSRDC has clarified that the project aims to boost regional connectivity and economic development and include it in the Samruddhi Mahamarg network.
Project Scope and Benefits:
Length: 134 km
Estimated Cost: Rs 15,696 crore
Land to be acquired: 1,545 hectares
