Maharashtra has approved the construction of a 104.9-km high-speed freight corridor that will directly link the upcoming Vadhavan Port in Palghar district with the Samruddhi Mahamarg, Minister Dadaji Bhuse informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
The state cabinet has also cleared the design and land acquisition plans for the project, with funds for land acquisition to be raised through HUDCO. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will execute the project, which is targeted for completion within three years.
Responding to a question by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Mahesh Sawant and others, Bhuse said the detailed project report will guide the financial planning and viability assessment of the corridor.
The high-speed freight route will connect Vadhavan Port to the Samruddhi Expressway at Bharvir in Nashik district, passing through Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar, and Mokhada in Palghar, and Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri in Nashik.
Once completed, the dedicated corridor will reduce the port-to-expressway distance from around 183 km to 105 km, cutting travel time for freight from the current 4–5 hours to just 1–1.5 hours.
Calling the link “a crucial strategic corridor,” Bhuse said it will support the anticipated surge in international cargo from Vadhavan Port, which is being developed as a major transshipment hub under the Centre’s Sagarmala initiative. The faster and more cost-efficient connectivity is expected to significantly benefit industries and agricultural sectors across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra by offering a direct route to the western coast.