Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway will be connected to the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Palghar district through a dedicated transit corridor from Igatpuri. The linkage, he said, will significantly boost the state’s logistics ecosystem and enhance its role in the global supply chain.
“The expressway will be linked to the port, which is among the world’s 10 largest. The maps have already been approved, and work will begin in due course. Igatpuri is barely 90 km from Vadhvan,” Fadnavis said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of XSIO’s logistics park near the Samruddhi corridor.
Fadnavis highlighted that the new link would benefit logistics operators along the expressway by enabling seamless access to export channels. “Those catering to the domestic market will also be able to export goods from here. This will further increase Maharashtra’s contribution to the global supply chain,” he said.
Currently, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is the country’s largest port, but Vadhvan will be nearly three times bigger in capacity once operational, the chief minister added.
Progress on Shaktipeeth Corridor
Fadnavis also reviewed the progress of the proposed Shaktipeeth Project, aimed at enhancing connectivity between Vidarbha and Goa. He said joint measurement work has been completed for 70% of the alignment, while two alternative routes have been identified for the remaining stretch. “A final choice will be made soon. Neither alignment requires major diversion, and the joint measurement for the entire route will be completed shortly,” he said.
Nagpur’s Rise as an Aviation and Logistics Hub
The chief minister underlined Nagpur’s growing importance as a centre for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations. “If you are on the window seat while landing at Nagpur, you may see 18 to 20 aircraft parked. These planes are here for maintenance, which shows Nagpur’s emergence as an aviation hub,” Fadnavis said. He added that the city is also poised to grow into a significant passenger and air-cargo hub with further airport development.
Commenting on the long-pending transfer of Nagpur airport to GMR Group as a private concessionaire, Fadnavis noted that “nearly all issues have now been resolved.”
He also reiterated Nagpur’s natural geographic advantage in becoming a logistics capital. “During the British trigonometrical survey, Nagpur was identified as the zero mile because it is equidistant from all corners of the country. Being the zero mile, it deserves to be India’s logistics capital,” he said.
