Pune: The Maharashtra government has taken a crucial step in advancing the Pune-Nashik Green Corridor (Industrial) Highway by issuing a land acquisition notification. This long-pending project, which had been stuck in discussions for the past two years, now moves closer to execution.
The Pune-Nashik Green Corridor is aligned with a proposed semi-high-speed railway project under the Railway Ministry’s ‘Vision 2020’ plan. The railway alignment has been finalized and approved by both the Central Railway Ministry and the Maharashtra State Government, with the final clearance pending.
Meanwhile, discussions about the highway began two years ago when then Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) to conduct a feasibility study. However, the project was caught in a debate over whether a high-speed railway or a highway should be prioritized.
MSRDC appointed a consultant and prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the highway. However, strong opposition from farmers led them to approach Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who subsequently advised reconsidering the project. This resulted in uncertainty and delays.
Last year, the state government issued a notification for land acquisition, but as work did not begin, the notification expired. Now, a new notification has been issued, clearing the way for land acquisition and project execution.
Project Scope and Benefits
Length: 134 km
Estimated Cost: ₹15,696 crore
Land to be Acquired: 1,545 hectares
The Pune-Nashik Green Corridor is expected to boost industrial, agricultural, and IT connectivity between the two cities. Pune is already a major IT and industrial hub, while Nashik has seen a rapid rise in IT companies and agro-based industries. MSRDC has emphasized that the project aims to enhance regional connectivity and economic growth while integrating with the Samruddhi Expressway network.
The Pune-Mumbai Expressway Missing Link Project will reduce the distance between Pune and Mumbai by 6 km, cutting travel time by 30 minutes. Similarly, the Pune-Nashik Green Corridor will reduce travel time from the current 5-6 hours to just 2-2.5 hours, making Nashik more accessible from Pune.