Nashik Phata to Khed Elevated Corridor Approved to Boost Pune-Nashik Connectivity

Reported By Sumit Singh 

Pune, 2nd August 2024: Today, the Union Cabinet sanctioned eight major National High-Speed Road Corridor Projects, spanning a total distance of 936 km with an investment of Rs 50,655 crore. These projects aim to enhance “logistics efficiency, alleviate traffic congestion, and boost national connectivity.” A notable project in this initiative includes an 8-lane elevated National High-Speed Corridor extending from Nashik Phata to Khed near Pune.

The government’s official statement reveals that the Nashik Phata to Khed National High-Speed Corridor will be constructed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model with an estimated capital expenditure of Rs 7,827 crore. This investment is intended to support Pune’s expanding industrial zone and improve connectivity for traffic between Pune and Nashik, particularly benefiting industrial areas such as Chakan and Bhosari along NH-60. The corridor will also help ease congestion in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area.

The project involves constructing an 8-lane elevated flyover and upgrading existing roads to 4/6 lanes with service roads on both sides from Nashik Phata to Khed. This includes two packages: Package 1 (from km 12.190 to km 28.925) and Package 2 (from km 28.925 to km 42.113) of NH-60 in Maharashtra.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved these key projects. The implementation is expected to create approximately 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, also released a video highlighting the project’s coverage area.

Union Minister of State and MP from Pune, Murlidhar Mohol, stated, “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the 30 km long, 8-lane elevated Nashik Phata-Khed corridor for Rs 7,827 crore. This corridor will connect major financial hubs such as Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Chakan, enhancing logistics efficiency in the region. It will provide connectivity to 10 economic nodes, including mega food parks, textile clusters, SEZs, pharma and medical clusters, and electronic manufacturing hubs. The project includes nine junctions and two major bridges to facilitate smooth transportation. This development will overcome a significant barrier to the growth of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Chakan, boost logistics capacity for the automobile sector and other industries, reduce transportation costs, and help mitigate traffic congestion and pollution.”