The Union Cabinet approves the development of a six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway connecting Nashik, Solapur, and Akkalkot in Maharashtra, marking a significant boost to the state’s transport infrastructure. The announcement was made by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who described the project as an important component of the Mumbai–Chennai economic corridor and India’s expanding high-speed road network.
The project has received clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with an estimated investment of INR 19,142 crore. To be developed as a greenfield corridor under the Build-Operate-Transfer model, it is being positioned as the highest-value BOT road project undertaken in the country to date.
The expressway will pass through key districts including Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur, enhancing intra-state connectivity while strengthening links between western India and southern states. Once operational, it will form a critical section of the Surat–Chennai high-speed corridor, enabling smoother movement of passengers and freight across regions.
Government estimates indicate that the project will reduce the distance between Nashik and Solapur from 432 km to 374 km, a reduction of approximately 14 percent. Average travel speeds are expected to increase from 60 kmph to 100 kmph, resulting in shorter travel times and reduced congestion on existing roadways.
The corridor is also projected to deliver substantial time savings for long-distance travel. Journey time between Surat and Chennai is expected to decline by nearly 45 percent, from about 31 hours to approximately 17 hours, offering major benefits to logistics operators, businesses, and long-haul travellers.
Beyond improving mobility, the expressway is expected to stimulate economic growth by attracting private investment, enhancing regional trade, and supporting industrial development along the route. With a construction timeline of two years, the Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot expressway is set to emerge as a key infrastructure milestone in India’s drive toward faster and more efficient connectivity.
