Chief Minister Shinde Urges Prompt Start for Nashik-Pune Railway at NITI Aayog Meeting
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New Delhi, 27th July 2024: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has urged the Central Government to expedite support for several critical infrastructure and development projects in Maharashtra, including the Nashik-Pune Railway, Chiplun-Karad, Thane Metro, and Mumbai Funnel Zone. During the NITI Aayog meeting held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, Chief Minister Shinde appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance in ensuring these projects are completed on time.
At the meeting, Chief Minister Shinde highlighted the state government’s initiatives centered on the welfare of the common man. He emphasized the large-scale redevelopment schemes for old and dilapidated buildings in the Mumbai metropolitan area and other parts of the state through cluster development, noting that it is the largest brownfield project in Asia. This scheme aims to enhance the living standards of Maharashtra’s citizens, with state government institutions spearheading the redevelopment of slums and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai. Over two lakh houses are currently under construction as part of these efforts.
Chief Minister Shinde also discussed the rapid progress of major road projects in the state, mentioning that the Konkan Coastal Road and Konkan Green Field Expressway are set to be transformative for the region. He outlined plans to create a 5,000 km access control grid to ensure uninterrupted connectivity across Maharashtra. Additionally, the construction of approximately 390 km of metro lines in the Mumbai metropolitan area, with an investment exceeding a quarter of a lakh crore rupees, is progressing swiftly. Similar metro projects in Pune and Nagpur are also advancing at a rapid pace.
Highlighting immediate priorities, Chief Minister Shinde called for the prompt commencement of the Nashik-Pune railway project. He also discussed the importance of resolving issues related to the funnel zone in Mumbai, height restrictions, and radar relocation. Furthermore, he proposed the development of a quadrangle akin to Marine Drive by optimizing the use of six acres of BPT land.