In a significant development for transport connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has secured the bid for the Virar-Alibaug multimodal corridor (VAMMC).
At nearly 100km, the Rs 60,000-crore project will comprise an eight-lane expressway with provisions for future Metro rail connectivity in its median. The tendering process for the corridor, as well as the Pune Ring Road and the Samruddhi Expressway Extension, attracted participation from 28 infra companies, including L&T and Afcons.
The VAMMC will pass through Vasai, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ambernath, Panvel, Uran and Pen. It will mainly be a connecting link with the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport, JNPT Port, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), and a dedicated freight corridor. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Virar and Alibaug by 50%, and because it will pass through the Mumbai-Satara Highway, it will act as a shortcut between various areas in MMR and Goa.
The Pune Ring Road will be a 137km access-controlled expressway encircling Pune. The Rs 34,000-crore project will not only bring Mumbai closer to the interior parts of Pune – motorists can take the ring road to reach their destinations instead of getting stranded in traffic jams mid-city – but also provide connectivity to the talukas of Khed, Haveli, Purandar, Bhor, Mulshi and Maval. The Samruddhi Extension will start from the 500th km point near Jalna and connect to the Nanded-Degloor National Highway in Kakandi. It will also intersect with the proposed expressway passing through Jalna-Parbhani and Nanded. The project is estimated to cost Rs 22,000 crore.
