Union Minister for road transport Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg and a number of new road projects will promote further economic growth in Maharashtra. Speaking at the Second ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi – New India, New Resolve Conference’ organized by CII in Mumbai today, Gadkari said great infrastructure projects to connect Mumbai with Delhi, Pune and Bangalore are in the pipeline.
Gadkari informed that 70% work on the ambitious Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi – Mumbai Expressway has been completed and it will reduce the travel time between the national capital and the commercial capital to 12 hours. He said, “It is my dream to establish seamless connectivity from Nariman Point in Mumbai to Delhi through a network of coastal road and sea-link up to Vasai-Virar and beyond with a project outlay of Rs 50,000 crores.“ He requested the Government of Maharashtra to waive off State GST on steel and cement required for the project.
Gadkari also informed about the plans to build direct road connectivity from Mumbai to Bangalore through Westerly Bypass of the Mumbai– Pune Expressway and Pune Ring Road. He said the road alignment plan has already been prepared and the work is expected to begin soon. The Minister said that a new Pune – Aurangabad road alignment has been planned, which will reduce the travel time between the two cities to just 2 hours.
Gadkari asked the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was also present at the Conference to pro-actively undertake land acquisition work. He also suggested that on the lines of Navi Mumbai, the Maharashtra Government should plan to build new townships along the new roads near Pune and Aurangabad.
Gadkari also informed that the new road alignment connecting Surat – Nashik – Ahmednagar – Solapur, would divert 50% of the southbound traffic coming from North India, which would result in substantial reduction of air pollution in Thane, Mumbai and Pune. He noted that Maharashtra’s contribution will be key in making India a 5 trillion dollar economy, adding that Maharashtra can become a pioneering state in promoting alternative fuels.
First phase of Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg to be Commissioned soon, says Eknath Shinde
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the first phase of the Rs 55,000 crore Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Marg will be soon commissioned. He added that the state government is focused on creating 15 industrial corridors in the state and promised to work with the Centre to create a pro-industry ecosystem.
Shinde announced that the government will make all efforts so that Maharashtra's economy becomes a trillion dollar economy.
On the other hand, DCM Devendra Fadnavis said Maharashtra’s economy will have a potential to become seven trillion dollars. ‘’Maharashtra is the engine of the Indian economy's engine. If we keep progressing as a nation, we can become a 7 trillion economy. We (BJP-led government which he headed as CM) made a pledge in 2015 to grow to a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. I renew that pledge today, under Maha CM Eknath Shinde's leadership,’’ noted Fadnavis.
