India's Maharashtra state cabinet approves 105-km freight corridor

Proposed as a strategic infrastructure link under the state’s rapid logistics expansion plan, the corridor is expected to save nearly 79 km in travel distance and reduce commuting time between the port and the expressway from 4-5 hours to just 1-1.5 hours.

To be developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the project has a total outlay of ₹25.289 billion, including a ₹15-billion loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation.

The corridor is scheduled to be completed within three years, according to media reports from the state.

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. The National Highways Authority of India 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.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)