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The Central Government has made a major change in the route of the Chennai Surat National Highway proposed under the Bharatmala Project. Earlier this 1271 km long expressway was to reach Surat, but now it will be built only for about 900 km and its end point will be Nashik. Delay in land acquisition and environmental clearance has been the main reason for this decision.
New Delhi. The Central Government has made major changes in the plan of the Chennai Surat National Highway proposed under the Bharatmala Project. Earlier, this 1271 kilometer long six-lane access controlled expressway was to reach Surat, but now it will be built only for about 900 kilometers. The new route will end at Nashik, due to which the length of the project has been reduced by more than 300 kilometers.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, problems in land acquisition between Nashik and Surat and delay in environmental clearance became the major reasons for this decision. According to the report, due to these obstacles the government has decided to shorten the route. The estimated cost of this expressway was earlier around Rs 50000 crore.
How was the whole plan earlier?
In the initial plan, this expressway would go from Surat to Chennai and directly connect Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Its route was going to pass through big cities like Surat, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Tirupati. The project was divided into two parts, which included a 513 km section from Surat to Solapur and a 707 km section from Solapur to Chennai.
What will be the new route now?
Under the revised plan, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will build a new greenfield expressway from Bharvir Khurd on Samriddhi Expressway to Tawa village on NH 48. This part will be connected to Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and according to officials, it will have the same effect as the Surat-Nashik section in terms of traffic movement.
What will be the impact on connectivity and travel?
Although the length of the expressway has been reduced, its six-lane and access controlled nature will remain intact. Vehicles will be able to run at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour on this road, due to which long distance journeys will be completed in a very short time. The central government says that this project will strengthen connectivity between Central and South India, improve logistics and give impetus to economic activities.
