India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the go-ahead for the Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor project, which entails an investment of Rs191.42bn ($2.1bn).
The six-lane, access-controlled greenfield project will link Nashik, Solapur, and Akkalkot in Maharashtra.
It will be implemented on a build-operate-transfer (BOT toll) mode covering a distance of 374km.
This infrastructure project is intended to improve links between regional centres including Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur, with onward connectivity to Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.
The Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor is positioned as part of integrated transport infrastructure development under the “PM Gatishakti National Master Plan” principle.
Notably, the corridor will connect with major expressways such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Vadhawan port interchange and the Agra-Mumbai corridor at Nashik.
The access-controlled corridor is expected to enable connectivity from India’s west coast to the east coast.
It is expected to cut travel distance by 201km and bring down travel time by 17 hours.
The Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor also seeks to bolster logistics efficiency for freight moving to and from key nodes within the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC). These nodes include Kopparthy and Orvakal.
Moreover, the proposed corridor will integrate with ongoing projects like the Chennai-Hasapur four-lane corridor, which extends to 700km via Thiruvallur, Renigunta, Kadappa, and Kurnool.
Additionally, the Nashik–Talegaon Dighe stretch is cited as responding to the identified need for a Pune–Nashik Expressway, which NICDC has flagged as part of a proposed new expressway being pursued by the Maharashtra state government.
According to the Indian government, the Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor is designed for vehicles to travel at an average of 60km/h, with a maximum design speed of 100km/h.
It is anticipated to shorten travel time by 45%, from 31 hours, while enhancing safety and reducing congestion.
In addition to transport benefits, the project is projected to create around 251.06 lakh man-days of direct employment along with 313.83 lakh man-days of indirect employment.
The rise in economic activity around the Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor is expected to generate further employment opportunities.
