Centre approves highways projects in Mahrashtra

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned several National Highways projects in Maharashtra, including widening of the Westerly Bypass and six-laning of Pune-Satara and Satara-Kagal sections.

This was announced by Maharashtra Public Works Department Minister Chhagan Bhujbal following his meeting with Union Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu here today.

The meeting was held in the office of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Besides Mr Bhujbal, the meeting was attended by Mr Vijay Singh, Secretary, Road Transport and Highways, members of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Maharashtra MPs Devidas Pingle and Vasant More.

Mr Bhujbal later told reporters that the Road Transport and Highways Ministry had approved various projects for four-laning and six-laning of national Highways in the state.

Under the Mumbai-Nashik-Dhule to state border (NH3) proposal, various projects like the expansion to 6-8 lane of the 23-km-long Bhiwandi bypass and six-laning of the Vadape-Gonde section (NH3), were approved.

Similarly, it was decided that a survey would be conducted for six-laning of Ginde-Pimpalgaon section, comprising the longest flyover of 5.7 km.

Mr Bhujbal said the widening of the Westerly Bypass (34.25 km), Pune-Satara section (110 km) and Satara-Kagal section (133 km), all located at the Pune-Satara-Kolhapur-Kagal stretch (NH-4) to six-lane from the existing four-lane, were also accorded approval.

He said the Satara-Kagal section work of six-laning, with value addition works, would be carried out by the NHAI, which would also execute the project for six-laning of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section (NH-8).

Mr Bhujbal said the four-laning work would be carried out between Pune and Solapur on NH-9. Accordingly, a survey for four-laning of Pune-Indapur, Indapur-Chiplun, Chiplun-Zarap and Zarap-Patradevi on the Mumbai-Goa Highway (MH-7) would be carried out on a priority basis.

UNI