Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates Rs 3695 Crore National Highway Projects in Maharashtra

New Delhi, Sep 29: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has unveiled a series of significant National Highway (NH) projects in Maharashtra, totaling Rs 3,695 crore in investment. One of these projects is set to enhance connectivity between Maharashtra and Telangana, fostering trade relations between the two states.

The highlight of these projects is the 4-lane National Highway 161, stretching from Akola in Maharashtra to Sangareddy in Telangana, which promises to fortify trade ties. The inauguration took place at a ceremony held in Washim, Maharashtra.

The project is divided into three packages:

1. The first package, from Akola to Medshi, with an investment of Rs 1,259 crore, incorporates 10 underpasses and 85 culverts.
2. The second package, spanning from Medshi to Washim at a cost of Rs 1,394 crore, features 13 bus shelters, a 6-lane railway overbridge (ROB), and a Washim city bypass.
3. The third package, from Pangre to Warangafata, with a budget of Rs 1,042 crore, includes the construction of a significant bridge over the Kayadhu river, along with Kalamanuri and Akhara-Balapur city bypass components.

Minister Gadkari emphasized that these projects will connect numerous vital locations in Akola, Washim, Nanded, and Hingoli districts, making it more convenient to access religious and tourist destinations such as the Shegavche Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Akola Shahnoor Fort, Antriksh Jain Temple, Eighth Jyotirling Aundha-Naganath, Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan, Narsi, and Takht Sachkhand Gurudwara in Nanded.

Moreover, the enhanced highway infrastructure is poised to open up new business opportunities in both Telangana and Maharashtra, fostering higher economic growth and generating increased employment opportunities.

Minister Gadkari also highlighted the eco-friendly aspect of these projects. Under the ‘Amrit Sarovar’ scheme, ponds in villages like Savargaon Barde, Jhodga Khurd, Chivra, Amani, Saikheda, and others were excavated, and the soil and sand extracted were repurposed in the construction of the highway.

Over the last nine years, a total of 227 kilometers of highway network has been established in Washim district, connecting the regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada, as stated by the minister.