Maharashtra Approves 4 Expressways in Vidarbha for High-Speed Connectivity

Maharashtra's Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved four new expressway projects in Vidarbha totaling 547 km. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed officials to ensure timely completion of these high-speed corridors. Additionally, an agreement was signed for the Africa India International Development Zone at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. A separate MoU was also signed for a 500 MW Integrated Green Data Centre Park in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region with an investment of Rs 1,14,000 crore.

Key Points: Maharashtra Clears 4 Expressways in Vidarbha

  • Four expressway projects totaling 547 km approved in Vidarbha
  • Projects include Nagpur-Gondia, Bhandara-Gadchiroli, Nagpur-Chandrapur expressways
  • Navegaon More-Surjagarh route to be connected to Samruddhi Mahamarg
  • Agreement signed for Africa India International Development Zone in Navi Mumbai
  • MoU for 500 MW green data centre park in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
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Maharashtra clears four expressway projects in Vidarbha

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis approves four expressway projects in Vidarbha, including Nagpur-Gondia and Bhandara-Gadchiroli, to boost high-speed connectivity and development.

"By prioritising seamless infrastructure, the state is advancing towards a future defined by integrated, high-speed and inclusive development. - Devendra Fadnavis"

Mumbai, May 14

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure on Thursday granted administrative approval for four access-controlled expressway projects in Vidarbha, totalling 547 km, to connect Maharashtra's eastern and western borders through high-speed corridors.

He instructed officials to ensure swift progress and timely completion of the projects.

These projects are the Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, Bhandara-Gadchiroli Expressway, Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway, and the Navegaon More-Konsari to Surjagarh Greenfield Road.

CM Fadnavis said he has directed officials to accelerate the next steps for these projects, which serve as an important link between the eastern and western regions of Maharashtra and represent a significant step in Vidarbha's development.

He instructed that the Navegaon More-Surjagarh route, crucial for mineral transport, must be connected to the Samruddhi Mahamarg.

Additionally, he directed officials to study a proposed tunnel road connecting western Maharashtra to the Konkan region and prepare a detailed presentation on the project.

"By prioritising seamless infrastructure, the state is advancing towards a future defined by integrated, high-speed and inclusive development," he added.

In a related development, CM Fadnavis presided over the signing and exchange of an agreement between the Government of Maharashtra (City and Industrial Development Corporation) and Africa India Economic Foundation to enable the formation of a special purpose vehicle for the development of the Africa India International Development Zone at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.

Key infrastructure and facilities include the AIBC Tower to house offices for 54 African nations and Indian stakeholders, convention and conference facilities, exhibition halls, cultural and heritage centres, incubation and research centres, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and entrepreneurship development facilities for Africa-India trade, hospitality infrastructure, and allied infrastructure and amenities.

Meanwhile, CM Fadnavis also presided over the signing and exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Maharashtra (Industries Department) and AM Intelligence Labs Pvt Ltd for the development of a 500 MW Integrated Green Data Centre Park and Artificial Intelligence Compute Hub in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The Chief Minister's Office said the proposed investment will be Rs 1,14,000 crore and generate 800 jobs.

The project will be powered entirely by renewable energy and will facilitate large-scale Artificial Intelligence model training, data processing and the provision of cloud-based Artificial Intelligence services.

Further, the project will boost investment, employment, technological development and the green energy sector in the state.

Furthermore, it will play a vital role in developing Maharashtra as the capital of Artificial Intelligence and India's digital infrastructure.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Good news for Nagpur and Chandrapur! The 547 km network will transform travel times. But I'm cautiously optimistic—we've seen many announcements before without follow-through. Let's hope the CM's instructions lead to actual ground-breaking soon. Also, the ₹1.14 lakh crore data centre park sounds ambitious—hope it's not just another greenfield project that gets stuck in red tape. 🤞
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Michael C
As an expat living in Mumbai, this makes me hopeful for balanced regional development. The focus on green energy for the data centre is smart—India needs to lead on AI infrastructure while being environmentally responsible. But 800 jobs for ₹1.14 lakh crore investment seems low? That's over ₹14 crore per job! Maybe the spin-off effects are what they're counting on. 🤔
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Rajesh Q
The Africa-India development zone at Kharghar is interesting—could really boost ties with African nations. But why focus on Navi Mumbai when real estate prices are already sky-high there? And the tunnel road connecting western Maharashtra to Konkan? That's a decade-old dream! Focus on what's doable first—the Vidarbha expressways and AI park. One step at a time, please. 😅
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Priya S
Great initiative! As someone from Gondia, this is a game-changer. The Nagpur-Gondia expressway will cut travel time from 5 hours to maybe 2.5 hours! But I worry about the environmental impact—Vidarbha has rich forests and wildlife corridors. Hope they plan eco-friendly alignments and bridges for animal movement. Development shouldn't come at the cost of our natural heritage. 🌿🦌
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Vikram M

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