New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Nashik Akkalkot corridor project in Maharashtra, clearing the construction of a 374-km, six-lane greenfield access-controlled highway at a cost of ₹19,142 crore.
The project will be developed on BOT (Toll) mode and aims to strengthen integrated transport infrastructure under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. Officials said the corridor would connect key regional cities including Nashik, Ahilyanagar and Solapur, with onward connectivity to Akkalkot and Kurnool.
According to the government, the Nashik Akkalkot corridor will improve travel efficiency and logistics movement across the region. The access-controlled highway will reduce travel time by nearly 17 hours and shorten the travel distance by about 201 km.
The corridor will link major national corridors, including the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway near the Vadhawan port interchange, the Agra–Mumbai corridor at Nashik, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Pangri. It will also provide through connectivity from the west coast to the east coast.
Officials said the project would support freight movement linked to NICDC nodes at Kopparthy and Orvakal. The Nashik–Talegaon Dighe section will also address the long-pending requirement for a Pune–Nashik Expressway, identified earlier by NICDC.
Nashik Akkalkot corridor to boost speed, safety and jobs
The six-lane corridor will support an average speed of 60 kmph, with a design speed of 100 kmph. This design will allow safer and uninterrupted movement for passenger and freight vehicles.
The improved highway will enhance basic infrastructure in Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv and Solapur districts. Officials said the project would lower congestion and operating costs while supporting regional economic growth.
The project is expected to generate about 251.06 lakh man-days of direct employment and 313.83 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Authorities said additional jobs would emerge due to increased economic activity along the corridor.
The government said the Nashik Akkalkot corridor would play a key role in strengthening Maharashtra’s highway network and improving long-distance connectivity across states.
